IRVINE, Calif. — When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, visits Irvine Sunday, it’ll mark the second visit by a top Democrat in a little over a week as the midterm elections draw near.

President Joe Biden made his visit Saturday, posing with Irvine Mayor Farrah Kahn, with local Democrats looking to pile on more late-game enthusiasm for national and down-ballot blue races. It’s part of a strategy local Democrats have to continue selling Orange County as crucial nationally to drum up local enthusiasm and draw sustaining national support.

Adam Probolsky, a long-time friend of Republican candidate Scott Baugh, called it a panic move to close the deal on Rep. Katie Porter’s, D-Calif., coveted seat.

“National political figures do not come to Irvine for something other than endorsing Katie Porter. The logistics of getting the president to Irvine Valley College are so much more complicated than it would be anywhere else,” he said. “And it’s the worst media market known to the world.”

Porter has been a leading fundraiser in her party and contributes portions of her massive haul to like-minded candidates in numerous districts around the country. She’s had easy races so far.

In the past, she dispatched Greg Raths, a former mayor of Mission Viejo who succeeded in annoying local Republican leaders and failed to secure national support. Baugh has served in the California state legislature and has attracted national money to his banner. While reliable local polling is hard to come by, Porter is considered the likely winner by the Cook Political Report.

Republicans are just hoping for a close race, knowing that incumbent candidates are most vulnerable during a midterm election when the White House is held by their own party.

And Biden’s popularity has suffered. Inflation endures and fears over a recession persist, further worrying Democrats over how deep their midterm losses could be. FiveThirtyEight forecasts an edge for Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, but gives Democrats a lead in the U.S. Senate.

Now Ocasio-Cortez is scheduled to speak at the University of California, Irvine. Where on campus and what time have yet to be announced.

“Bringing AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] to town is a weird move,” said Probolsky, who also runs local polling firm Probolsky Research. “Even pretty liberal Democrats aren’t buying what she’s selling.”

Ajay Mohan, executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County, said Ocasio-Cortez and other high-profile Democrats he hopes to bring to the county will forge long-term relationships.

“Orange County is and will remain the epicenter of congressional elections for years to come,” he said. “We’re really excited about it, and we think national Democrats will take notice.”