LAGUNA BEACH -- Fred Karger, the only Californian - and the only gay candidate - in the 2012 Republican presidential field, says he knows plenty about closed doors. But shut out by his own party - and in his own state?

Even as Republican leaders say they're eagerly wooing all candidates to the state GOP convention Sept. 16-18 in Los Angeles, Karger says his request to attend and address the party activists has apparently been refused.

"I have been waiting for my invitation, and it never came," Karger, 61, a 38-year resident of Laguna Beach (Orange County), told The Chronicle last week. "And I called up a couple of weeks ago and explained my position."

That's when a party official, Karger said, left a "terse" message: "The schedule is completely filled."

State GOP Chairman Tom Del Beccaro told The Chronicle last week that he had reached out to all the presidential candidates to participate in a newly adopted straw poll, a convention event designed to ramp up enthusiasm, donations and media attention.

So far, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann has confirmed and is scheduled as the Friday night keynote speaker. Texas Rep. Ron Paul's campaign announced he also planned to attend.

Sources tell The Chronicle that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a part-time California resident who owns a $10 million home in La Jolla (San Diego County), is not planning to appear at the convention.

'Cold shoulder'

The irony, Karger says, is that he's the only California resident in the field who really wants to address the convention, and he's being given the "cold shoulder."

Karger, a moderate Republican, supports withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, lowering the voting age to 16, and marriage equality for same-sex couples.

"We can always look at it as homophobia, but what's frustrating is when people don't even return phone calls," said Kevin Miniter, the spokesman for Karger's campaign, adding it's not the first time Republicans have appeared to put the gay candidate at arm's length.

Karger was all set to attend the national Conservative Political Action Conference, where he had arranged for a booth and even provided his credit card to pay for it. He was surprised to get a call saying "Fred was no longer invited ... because there were no booths available," Miniter said.

Miniter called to check - inquiring about booth rental for another group - and suddenly, "they were more than happy to rent to us," he said.

A state GOP official, who declined to be identified, said the party did not want to "negotiate in the press" with candidates over speaking arrangements. But the official also noted there is a real logistical problem in accommodating the presidential candidates, including former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who have been invited to attend. The marquee names will draw more interest and paying seat-holders, party officials say.

Still, Karger's team argues he's no neophyte in the political world - and that he deserves a spot in GOP conventions and debates like the Sept. 7 event at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley (Ventura County).

Valid candidate

The candidate proudly points to a recent Harris Interactive Poll, which put Karger at 2 percent, tying with former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty - who recently dropped out of the race - and Huntsman, while outpolling Santorum. In a recent Zogby Poll, Karger tied Gingrich and surpassed former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson.

Karger's team argues that his roots in politics run deep: He had his first volunteer stint with Nelson Rockefeller's campaign in 1964, when he was in his teens. He went on to work with the Dolphin Group, a political strategy firm whose clients included former California Gov. George Deukmejian, and the campaigns for President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H.W. Bush.

Jimmy LaSalvia, who heads GOProud, a national Republican organization that supports gay rights, argues that Karger isn't being discriminated against because he's gay.

"Fred Karger is not a credible candidate," he said. "I would love for there to be an openly gay, credible candidate for president who was out there making a case for why they would be better than Barack Obama.

"Unfortunately, Fred Karger is playing a stunt, and his stunt has run its course. His whole schtick is ... running around the country with a rainbow flag, saying 'I'm the gay guy,' " he said. "But he hasn't made a case about why he should be president of the United States."

Miniter said the attention Karger has gotten in polls - and in profiles by national publications - and even from Republican National Committee leaders, who have treated him with great respect, show "Fred is beyond doubt a legitimate candidate."

"I would be very disappointed if the California Republican Party is trying to exclude me," Karger said. "I will continue to try. I've thought long and hard about it. ... (Sometimes) it was a lot easier when I was in the closet."