Whatever else you know, or think you know, about Arizona Sen. John McCain, know this: The man who would be president of the United States is a good listener.

And that's a very important trait, said Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin, especially in a region accustomed to being ignored when it comes to presidential politics.

"It was refreshing to finally be invited to the table to discuss some substantive issues," Pazin said. "He took time to reach out to local sheriffs.

"It was a great opportunity to sit down and talk with an individual who actually has the influence to make changes in our daily lives.

"(But) mostly, he's a very good listener."

McCain, one in a large field of potential GOP contenders for the 2008 presidential nomination, rolled into Dewz Restaurant in downtown Modesto for a fund-raising breakfast.

Pazin, who was invited to attend the session, came away impressed.

"We had a very candid conversation," he said. "We touched on the methamphetamine problem, gang influences and the need for more help from the federal government when we detain illegal immigrants accused of crimes."

San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill also spoke with McCain.

Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson was out of town and could not attend.

McCain's quick stop in Mo-desto marked the second time in as many days that a Republican presidential hopeful paid a visit to the area.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was the guest of honor at private fund-raiser Sunday in Hughson.

McCain's California trip was scheduled to raise money in advance of the second-quarter fund-raising deadline at the end of June.

He had fund-raisers in Sonoma and Vacaville on Sunday, and Modesto, Sacramento and Atherton on Monday.

Three more fund-raisers were scheduled for today in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Newport Beach.

Pazin believes that because California's presidential pri-mary election was moved up to February, more candidates will be visiting the valley.

"It's good for us to get our message to them," Pazin said. "If nothing else, we're on the radar screen."

McCain, during a brief news conference in front of the war memorial outside the Stanislaus County Courthouse, said he would work to bring more federal resources to the Central Valley to bolster the battle against crime, drugs and gangs.

"We discussed areas," McCain said, "where the federal government can be more helpful."

He also pledged to support farmers and ranchers, saying that he understood issues they and other Westerners face.

"The Central Valley is an important agricultural sector," McCain said, adding that water is a key regional issue that surely will be "discussed and negotiated" more and more in the years ahead.

Opposes amnesty?

Turning to illegal immigration, McCain said he favors reforms.

"The status quo is unacceptable," he said. "We have 12million people here illegally; we don't know where they are or what they're doing. So it's a national security issue."

McCain said he opposes am-nesty for those who illegally have entered the United States.

McCain, skewered by some GOP conservatives as an advocate for amnesty for illegal immigrants, vowed Monday to resurrect a controversial immigration reform measure in hopes Congress can pass the bill by July 4.

McCain said he is pushing for compromises on amendments to reach a resolution on the measure to improve border security and grant legal status to 12 million illegal immigrants.

Federal money is needed, Pazin said, to reimburse counties for detaining illegal immigrants who are accused of committing crimes.

Until Monday morning, Pazin said, finding a presidential candidate in the Central Valley was akin to sighting Bigfoot.

"We've heard of them," he said. "We've seen the grainy photographs, but until (today), we hadn't seen one of them."

State Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, accompanied McCain in Modesto. It was Denham and developer Gerry Kamilos who hosted the $500-a-plate breakfast in Modesto.

Pazin said about 60 people attended the event.

Later Monday in Sacramento, McCain appeared with former California Secretary of State Bill Jones.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bee staff writer Michael G. Mooney can be reached at mmooney@modbee.com or 578-2384.