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AmSpecBlog
Golden State Showdown
Earlier today, Brian noted the endorsement race between former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, but I thought I'd add a few broader points about the sure-to be contentious California Senate primary.
It's pretty clear that DeVore, who has less built-in fundraising advantages and lacks institutional support, will try to Scozzafava-ize Fiorina. Essentially, his best bet is to portray her as a liberal who is being thrust upon voters by the establishment, while he tries to galvanize grassroots activists -- and grab the online donations that go along with it. This much was pretty clear when DeVore spoke at a Spectator Newsmaker Breakfast in August. At the time, Fiorina wasn't even running yet, but he blasted her as a "rich moderate" and "self-funded dilettante."
Fiorina, for her part, comes into the race with more institutional support and should have plenty of financial resources, so her challenge will be to calm fears that she's really just another liberal Republican, while at the same time making the case that she'll be more electable statewide.
When it came to New York's 23rd Congressional race, the case for Doug Hoffman was a no-brainer for conservatives. Scozzafava was a liberal on both economic and social issues -- as evidenced by her ultimate endorsement of Bill Owens -- and she was running in a district where a conservative candidate had a reasonable chance of victory. Things are a bit more murky in California. It's much harder to see somebody who describes himself as a movement conservative winning a state that Obama carried by 24 points than it was to see the possibility of Hoffman winning a district that Obama carried by 5. And while Scozzafava had a very clear liberal record, it's not yet clear where Fiorina is ideologically. For what it's worth, in a recent interview Fiorina said she did not support the Wall Street bailout or economic stimulus package, which would put her to the right of Charlie Crist on the issue. On abortion, she said that she believes that life begins at conception and that she's "personally pro-life" while adding that government policy should be focused on reducing abortions and promoting adoption. She also said that she's opposed to government funding for abortion. I imagine that social conservatives will want to hear a bit more on this front, because when some politicians say they're "personally pro-life" it still means that they think it should be up to each individual woman whether or not to choose abortion. But either way, her remarks certainly put her well to the right of Scozzafava, who was openly pro-choice.
So I think there are a lot of factors that will play into this race going forward. Will a long campaign show Fiorina to be as liberal as DeVore says, or is she more conservative than a lot of people currently perceive? Is DeVore the real deal, or are there some things in his voting record that may tarnish his conservative credentials? Who will look more electable against Barbara Boxer come next June's primary? Of course, there are all the other non-ideological factors that will also play into the race. Fiorina, for one, had a very controversial tenure at Hewlett Packard, where she pushed through a contentious merger with Compaq, and was eventually ousted. Without getting into the merits, the point is that Fiorina made her fair share of enemies during her days as a corporate executive, and my guess is that they'll be ready and willing to come out swinging against her, potentially resulting in some very unflattering stories she'll have to fend off. While I'm somewhat familiar with Fiorina's history in the business world from my days as a financial reporter, I'm less familiar with DeVore's background beyond what he's said directly and what I've read to this point. But the same thing applies. How will his biography hold up over the course of a seven month primary that is sure to be expensive and brutal?
Either way, it should be one of the Senate races worth keeping an eye on.
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Pingback| 11.6.09 @ 7:31PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Golden State Showdown [ links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Richard Baker| 11.6.09 @ 7:34PM
The People are what's screwed up in the People's Republic of California. The mess there is a symptom of the delusional state of the citizens of the State.
Angel| 11.6.09 @ 7:42PM
Thanks a lot Richard; you just slammed millions of your fellow conservatives who reside in the Golden State. Jackass.
Angel| 11.6.09 @ 7:49PM
I'd prefer DeVore to RINO, Fiorina, but I'd crawl over broken glass, bloody knees and all, to get rid of Barbie ("Call me Senator, General") Boxer. UGH!
Carly's a RINO but she's not a flaming 'card check' liberal like Scozzafava.
Sunana| 11.6.09 @ 8:03PM
I don't know what you base your assessment that she's a RINO on. She's never held public office, she been in the business world for most of her life, paying her own way through undergrad & graduate school and doubled HP's profits under her tenure.
Before you attack her for being a RINO, maybe ferret out some facts to support your flawed theory before hand.
Angel| 11.6.09 @ 8:08PM
Sunana, I've researched Carly, have you? She's a RINO for sure. I didn't 'attack' her, I merely stated my opinion. Why so defensive?
I like Carly but I'm not going to pretend she's a Conservative like DeVore--she's not.
victor| 11.6.09 @ 10:06PM
You need to check your facts;
"Fiorina's campaign says net revenue increased from $39.3 billion the year before she became CEO in 1999 to $86.7 billion when she left in February 2005. Profits dipped from $3.1 billion in 1999 to $2.4 billion in 2005, but soon after shot up, to $8.3 billion in 2008."
Profits went down due to buying up Compaq during her tenure.
Profits and the stock went back up AFTER she left.
Stock went from $52 down to $20 in 2005.
She's the Master of Disaster: Carly Failurina!
chuck| 11.6.09 @ 7:52PM
She came off as a Rino in the Cavuto interview. And while I live in CA I have to agree with Richard, They keep electing Boxer and Feinstein.
Angel| 11.6.09 @ 8:13PM
Chuck, speak for yourself; you're one of those delusional "People," too, you know.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.6.09 @ 8:01PM
I just love to STEAL... uh...recruit...splendid people from California.
They move here to Texas...get a million dollar california house for...a hundred thousnd$$$, here.
Screw California. Thjey have played "lemming".
We get a thousand smart Californians per month!
YA"LL Come on... and buy a thirty-thirty at the state line.
(Uhhh...that is a rifle)
Angel| 11.6.09 @ 8:18PM
Not everyone is a citified Hollyweirdo in Cali, Ken.
Lots of us live east of the big cities and know about guns, we just have family commitments and can't leave the state.
We're just as patriotic as red-blooded Texans such as yourself; geography isn't everything, you know. Maybe some day I'll be lucky enough to live in Texas, but for now, I will take care of my elderly mama.
Pingback| 11.6.09 @ 8:18PM
Hellboy II: The Golden Army Hellboy’s Sword Prop Replica | eCheapPrice.com links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.6.09 @ 8:40PM
Angel
God bless you, lady!
...Store lots of water!...LOTS!
You have my cell-phone number...or not.
713-569-3896
...Bring mama! ...or just stay in touch.
Did you note that I threw my hat in the ring for President today?...on this site for goodness sake.
YOU lady...are the American spirit!
God bless
Ken
Angel| 11.6.09 @ 8:54PM
You sweet thing!
Americans like you, Ken, give me hope for our country. All my best to you, your family and your wonderful Texas!
Richard Baker| 11.6.09 @ 8:50PM
Angel:
Sorry if the truth about Californians offends. Last I checked, a large majority of Californians put these idiots in office and kept putting them in office. The State is not called the "Land of the Fruits and Nuts" for nothing.
Angel| 11.6.09 @ 8:56PM
Baker, you're an ass, but I don't care when there are dolls like Ken around. You are irrelevant.
victor| 11.6.09 @ 10:09PM
Hey Richard,
That reminds of an old joke from the 60's:
Everytime there's an earthquake in California,
the United States tips downward and all of the Fruits and Nuts in the country roll towards California.
Angel| 11.6.09 @ 10:19PM
Then why aren't you here, victor?
montereyjack| 11.7.09 @ 5:55PM
uh Vic,ummmm,like, can you come up with something a little more,uh, now? Like, "take my wife-please!"
Blacque Jacques Shellacque| 11.7.09 @ 1:59AM
Last I checked, a large majority of Californians put these idiots in office and kept putting them in office.
True enough, that's why this state is in such sad shape. There aren't enough conservatives here to make a difference anymore.
Pete| 11.6.09 @ 9:19PM
There are good people in CA - I used to live there but escaped - but let's face it, the big city populations are primarily Pelosis and the good folk in the rest of the state don't have the numbers to throw out the kooks. I wish it weren't so and I hope you prove me wrong, but that state is a model of big government failure - a model for what the Mocha Messiah would like to see happen to the whole country.
victor| 11.6.09 @ 10:12PM
What is it that they always say:
California leads and the rest of the nation follows?
Cali-failure-ia? Coming to a state near you?
Angel| 11.6.09 @ 10:53PM
At least California didn't unleash the Obummer disaster on the country: The scourge of Nancy Pelousy is more than enough.
It's not just my state; it breaks my heart that our whole country may be close to the tipping point right now.
Jamie| 11.10.09 @ 4:00PM
And then there are the moronic haters like victor. Loser.
CHINA ATV| 11.6.09 @ 9:42PM
Zhejiang cavalier Motion Apparatus Co. Ltd.:
CHINA ATV
RACING ATV
ATV (QUAD)
EEC ITEM
Pingback| 11.7.09 @ 6:58AM
Will American Eagle, Abercrombie, And/or Hollister Have Special Sales? | valuetips links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
bluecollarbytes| 11.7.09 @ 8:34AM
California is in a mess because voters demand nothing better. Or maybe it's because they want it all- no cuts in "services", continued growth of govt, more govt. interference and control, putting business/private enterprise in its place, and elevating self-appointed victims to special places in the legal system. This is California Dreamin for the 21st century.
Carly Fiorina is just not that offensive, regardless of Chuck's best efforts.
KS| 11.7.09 @ 8:44AM
My sense was that Fiorina had a high profile in the McCain campaign until she stated in an interview that Sarah Palin could not do her (Fiorina's) job. I believe she added that McCain couldn't, either. She seems to be out for herself.
I'd prefer Campbell to Whitman and DeVore to Fiorina, but I'd also like to support the ones who will beat the Dems.
Richard Baker| 11.7.09 @ 11:28AM
Angel:
I was taught that tired minds resort to profanify. Boy, you must be exhausted.
Angel| 11.8.09 @ 3:40PM
That's all you've got? Unlike you, at least I can spell. FYI, Richard, an ass is a donkey much like yourself.
I knew you were a wimp.
Richard Baker| 11.7.09 @ 11:40AM
Profanity, not profanify.
Sam| 11.7.09 @ 1:25PM
Richard,
You have obviously never been to California. If you did, it was probably northern CA where everything is cold and liberal.
Southern CA is the most beautiful place in American and no matter what the politicians do, nothing there will change. Are you cold right now Richard? The coldest temperature in SoCal is 50 degrees.
Don't hate us because we're awesome. I'm guessing no one cares about your state or part of the country- otherwise, you wouldn't be dissing CA.
Blacque Jacques Shellacque| 11.7.09 @ 3:14PM
Southern CA is the most beautiful place in American and no matter what the politicians do, nothing there will change.
Oh yeah, people love seeing all that chronic gang activity, horrendous traffic, hordes of illegal immigrants, and annual wildfires. And yeah, the politicians are unlikely to change any of it, because the majority of them only care about gaining and keeping political power.
Angel| 11.8.09 @ 3:49PM
California is a beautiful state and I love it here.
Blacque, if you live in SoCal you are welcome to leave any time: Last time I checked, no one was holding you here. Please go, it's already crowded enough with the people who love to live here.
I'm sick of tedious whiners like you who do nothing to make our situation better. Please leave, move to the humidity capital of the world, Florida, with the moron, Baker.
Richard Baker| 11.7.09 @ 5:35PM
Sam:
I have lived, skydived and vacationed in California. I know thereof what I speak. By the way, I'm in Florida at my home. How's Mexifornia these days? Dissing? Are you a member of one of California's growing legion of illiterate gangs? California, aye, there's the rub.
Angel| 11.8.09 @ 3:55PM
Baker, cover your ears, wimp, my words might offend! lol.
How are those hanging chads workin' out for you, Baker? Talk about fools, as an incompetent Floridian, you've got no room to talk. What a joke.
So glad you left our beautiful state; good riddance to smug, pig-headed trash. Did my words hurt your feelings? Hope so.
Richard Baker| 11.8.09 @ 3:59PM
Angel:
I'll pray for you that you don't get shot in the street. Do you speak spanish? Mexifornia will demand it so be ready. Sad little man.
Angel| 11.8.09 @ 4:57PM
Sad little man? I'm a white woman, moron. Wow, you really are an idiot. Haha!
Shame on you; I want nothing to do with bigots like yourself. Funny though, that a Latino hater like you would move to Florida to escape those of Latino descent. Are you aware that Cubans are Latinos, too?
Not the brightest bulb in the box or the sharpest tool in the shed, are you?