Campbell: Fiorina Campaign Resume "Work of Fiction"

by Tom Campbell - No Comments
Posted on March 11th, 2010 11:43 am

"With the California GOP convention approaching, the gloves are off - it's accountability time," said Campbell campaign spokesman James Fisfis in releasing the following statement from Tom Campbell, Republican for U.S. Senate:

TOM CAMPBELL:

"Now that she's an officially announced candidate for U.S. Senate, it's time to measure Carly Fiorina's campaign rhetoric against the reality of her record in business.

"And when this happens, the evidence is overwhelming: Carly Fiorina's campaign resume is a work of fiction.

'She boasts of having the business experience to help turn America's economy around, and yet her tenure as CEO of Hewlett-Packard was "disastrous" and a total "flop."

"With Fiorina as chairman and CEO," wrote Time, "Hewlett-Packard's value declined significantly and the technology giant endured massive layoffs."

"While she was slashing worker salaries by $130 million, she was collecting tens of millions of dollars for herself, not including the $40 million "golden parachute" she received after being fired for nearly running the company into the ground.

"Candidate Fiorina is now demanding 'crippling sanctions' against Iran - yet as a CEO, she skirted US trade sanctions and did business with Iran. First she 'denied' knowing about it, then recently 'admitted' it, and tried to dismiss it as only ''printer ink.'' But if Iran needed printer ink, who sold Iran the printers?

"She says, 'Voters are sick and tired of those who are responsible for creating the mess we're in' - and yet she epitomizes the corporate incompetence that contributed to America's economic meltdown.

"Portfolio included Carly Fiorina on its list of the worst American CEO's of all time. 'A consummate self-promoter,' wrote Portfolio, 'Fiorina was busy pontificating on the lecture circuit and posing for magazine covers while her company floundered. She paid herself handsome bonuses and perks while laying off thousands of employees to cut costs. The merger Fiorina orchestrated with Compaq in 2002 was widely seen as a failure. She was ousted in 2005.'

"To put this in perspective, Portfolio's list of the 'worst American CEOs of all time' includes Martin Sullivan of AIG, who approved huge corporate bonuses after taking $200 billion from U.S. taxpayers; Ken Lay of Enron, who bilked California consumers out of billions of dollars during the state's energy crisis; and Jay Gould, the legendary 19th Century railroad developer and speculator who 'sold out his associates, bribed legislators to get deals done, and even kidnapped a potential investor.'

"Her name is widely reviled in California,' David Packard's granddaughter, Arianna, wrote in a letter released this week, 'invoking her paints all Republicans as greedy out of touch CEOs. This is why Boxer uses her name as a fundraising tool.'

"As a private citizen, Carly Fiorina failed to vote. As a corporate CEO, she failed to lead. And yet somehow she believes this qualifies her for public office.

"Senator Barbara Boxer would exploit these failures mercilessly, turning Carly Fiorina into Gordon Gekko incarnate, and ending any hope that we Republicans could finally defeat her."

Campbell Crosses Million Mark in Fundraising

by Campbell Campaign - No Comments
Posted on March 10th, 2010 3:31 pm

Tom Campbell's U.S. Senate campaign announced that it has raised over $1 million since entering the race less than two months ago.

"Our fundraising is going exceptionally well," said Campbell campaign Finance Chairman Bill Oberndorf. "And our events are just getting underway. I'm fully confident we will meet our goals for the primary election."

The campaign has raised $1,000,694, which breaks down as $766,994 for the primary and $233,700 for the general.

"Our recent fundraising numbers prove that people believe that Tom Campbell is the only candidate who can defeat Boxer in November," said campaign manager Hana Callaghan.

Boxer Watch: First in the Series...

No Comments
Posted on March 9th, 2010 3:09 pm

California's climate regulations are beginning to cost the state jobs, compounding the 12.5% unemployment rates from January. Meanwhile, Sen. Boxer was a hero of further federal Cap and Trade Climate Legislation in the senate that would have cost the country over 2.5 million jobs and an average cost of $4,500 per family. Recent reports of errors in the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007 study and state challenges in Texas, Virginia and Alabama of the EPA's ruling that greenhouse gasses are a threat to public health shroud the push on climate legislation.

Tom's response: "Today's reports of California job losses from state climate regulations is a local example of the catastrophic policies Senator Boxer is advocating for with her avid support of cap and trade legislation in Washington. Government climate mandates will no doubt cost the state jobs and further endanger our economy. Preserving the environment for the next generation is a priority, but we need to do so in an economically sensible way, not by cutting 2.5 million jobs."

Campbell Campaign Questions Constitutional Positions of GOP Opponents

No Comments
Posted on March 9th, 2010 3:06 pm

Tom Campbell's opponents are now pointing to a letter Tom Campbell wrote on January 22, 2002, to the University of South Florida's president regarding Sami Al-Arian's termination as proof that Campbell is "a terrorist sympathizer" and "a friend to our foes." But instead of exposing Tom Campbell as an organ-harvesting, pan-jihadist, treasonous, anti-semitic demonsheep, a newly-discovered letter by FIRE reaffirms that Tom Campbell was merely joining other conservatives and civil libertarians as a committed defender of the U.S. Constitution, academic freedom and civil liberties.

"The greatest strength we have as Americans," wrote Campbell in his letter, "is our freedom to speak - including the freedom to speak unpopular views."

Then seven days later, on January 29, 2002, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education [FIRE] also sent a letter to the University of South Florida opposing the firing of Sami Al-Arian. The letter, signed by the group's president, said in part:

"I write to express our gravest concern about the threat to free speech and academic freedom posed by your intention to terminate Professor Sami Al-Arian.

"...Ultimately, it does not matter whether the University is vetoing Dr. Al-Arian's views, or whether outside violent thugs are doing so. The result is equally devastating for free speech, the First Amendment, and academic freedom.

"...Do not overturn the Bill of Rights and the canons of academic freedom by which you are legally and morally bound. Reverse this decision. As we all have learned immeasurably in these recent times, a free society is a precious thing, not at any cost to be abandoned. To abandon it so callously is unforgivable."

The FIRE letter makes clear that many prominent conservatives and civil libertarians joined Tom Campbell in protesting the Al-Arian case for reasons of free speech, due process and academic freedom - not because of any sinister motive to aid terrorists.

"Unless Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore are willing to tar these other conservatives with the 'terrorist sympathizer' label, we suggest they end their hysterical witch hunt before they look even more foolish," said Campbell spokesman James Fisfis. "They may be willing to run our Constitution through the shredder for political gain, but Tom Campbell isn't."

Campbell stands with conservative leaders on civil liberties - while Fiorina and Devore take the opposite side

Chuck DeVore and Carly Fiorina are also recklessly attacking Tom Campbell for supporting legislation against the use of "secret evidence." They should read the U.S. Constitution.

During the mid 1990's, the practice of using "secret evidence" to keep people in jail during U.S. immigration proceedings was so offensive that then-Governor George Bush, as a candidate for president, vowed to stop it. Jim Woolsey, the CIA Director from 1993 to 1995, publicly criticized the practice as well, calling it unconstitutional. Then-Congressman Campbell brought an appropriation rider to the floor of the House in 2000 saying the practice should stop.

A majority of the House agreed with Campbell's position against the use of secret evidence, including then-Congressman and now Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), then-Congressmen Pat Toomey (R-PA), Joe Scarborough (R-FL) and John Kasich (R-OH), current Congressman and CPAC presidential straw poll winner Ron Paul (R-TX) - and the only Holocaust survivor serving in Congress, Tom Lantos (D-CA).

"Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore are standing against the Constitution and these respected conservative leaders in support of secret evidence," said Fisfis. "As a constitutional scholar, Tom Campbell will defend and faithfully apply constitutional principles regardless of the politics of the moment."

NOTE: Earlier, Campbell inadvertently said he wrote the Al-Arian letter in 2001, but now having seen the original, he readily admits he was mistaken and that the letter was written in 2002. He regrets the error and apologizes for any confusion.

Report: Tom Campbell Widens Lead in New Poll

by Campbell Campaign - No Comments
Posted on February 26th, 2010 1:15 pm

Fox and Hounds Daily is reporting:

"In a survey of 427 high-propensity Republican voters conducted last week Campbell received 32% of the vote to Fiorina’s 18.5% and DeVore’s 11%."

"This survey continues the trend in which Tom Campbell is extending his lead over his primary opponents," said Campbell campaign spokesperson James Fisfis. "Tom Campbell is the clear leader in this primary."

Campbell lead in the Field Poll: 5 points (30 - 25 - 6)
Campbell lead in the PPIC poll: 11 points (27 - 16 - 8)
Campbell lead in the M4Strategies poll: 13.5 points (32 - 18.5 - 11)

"Obviously, voters were unmoved by the smears of the demon sheep ad," said Fisfis. "In these serious times, voters are looking for serious candidates with serious solutions. In this regard, Tom Campbell is the only candidate with a detailed plan to cut the Obama budget in half without new taxes. And that speaks volumes about who would actually take the fight to Senator Barbara Boxer and who would truly fight for fiscal responsibility as a U.S. Senator."

Campbell Campaign Statements on Recent Attacks

No Comments
Posted on February 25th, 2010 2:11 pm

"The attacks against Tom Campbell from his opponents have sunk to unforeseen depths - going from bizarre to now - grotesque," said Campbell spokesperson James Fisfis. "If Carly Fiorina is not willing to publicly disassociate herself from these charges of 'anti-Semitism,' it is reasonable for voters to question her qualifications to even participate in this serious debate about the issues facing our country. Sadly, nothing in the course or demeanor of her campaign so far suggests that she is ready to lead even a schoolyard debate on issues, much less run a serious campaign for the U.S. Senate."

The Campbell campaign released the following statements:

Former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz

"David McCulloch, in his book, Truman, recounts that on April 14, 1943, Harry Truman traveled to Chicago to attend a rally held to urge immediate action to save the imperiled Jews of Europe. The crowd was immense. An estimated twenty-five thousand people filled Chicago Stadium to hear keynote speaker Rabbi Stephen Wise of New York, head of the American Jewish Congress. The man who organized the event and introduced Truman was Federal Judge William J. Campbell. In 2007, Judge Campbell's son Tom followed his father's example. Tom was Dean of UC Berkeley's Hass School of Business. Britain's University and College Union had moved to cut off all funding, visits and joint publishing with Israeli universities. Tom Campbell stood up to this outrage against academic freedom and Israeli academics and academic institutions in particular. He invited any Israeli business professors affected by the attempted boycott to come to the Hass School of Business instead, and he called on all U.S. universities to do the same. Tom Campbell's support for the State of Israel is unwavering. As a member of Congress during the first Gulf War, he traveled to Israel to show solidarity. He was there the day of the last Scud missile attack. So here is Tom Campbell, a man of action at the university and on the field of battle. He clearly understands the very real threats facing the Israeli people, all the more urgent now as Iran rushes toward nuclear arms. Tom Campbell's record of action tells you where he stands, and I stand with him."

Merv Morris, former Northern California Chairman, AIPAC, and former Trustee, U.S. Holocaust Museum, Washington, D.C. (Bush appointee)

"I have known Tom Campbell for more than 20 years, and am proud to call him my friend. He offers leadership and new ideas for America at a time when we need them most. He has the experience to help restore our economy, and the strength to help protect us against global terror. Tom Campbell's good judgment and civility will serve us well in the United States Senate. He is a loyal friend for Israel, and unwavering in his support of its right to exist as a free nation. I proudly endorse him."

Campbell: More Debate Needed on Jobs Bill

by Tom Campbell - No Comments
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 1:28 pm

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tom Campbell issued the following statement on the jobs bill:

"Senator Barbara Boxer has voted for a new jobs bill, at a cost of $15 billion, even though they've still not spent $589 billion from last year’s jobs bill, the so-called 'stimulus bill' that didn't stimulate. Instead of new ideas, Senator Barbara Boxer is simply offering more of the same that hasn't worked.

"The fiscally responsible path is to re-target the $589 billion that remains to be spent from last year’s bill, before we add $15 billion more to our $1.27 trillion projected deficit this fiscal year.

"My plan is to use half of the $589 billion remaining in last year’s stimulus bill to lower the federal deficit - helping to restore confidence in our economy’s future - and the other half to forgive the payroll tax for new employees who have been out of work for two months or more. The President has proposed $30 billion for this latter purpose. I’d increase it almost ten times, using $295 billion remaining from last year’s stimulus bill.

"The administration credits last year’s stimulus bill for 2 million jobs, but only about 500,000 have been validated by neutral sources, and 385,000 of those were government jobs. I fear that, like many of the projects proposed in the bill last year, the additional $15 billion will be targeted for projects in the districts of powerful members of Congress. My plan will match tax forgiveness with real job creation in the private sector, where job growth constitutes a real and more permanent boost to our economy.

"I would not have voted to end debate on the jobs bill. I believe more debate is still needed to get a good bill that reduces the debt and creates lasting private sector employment growth."

Boxer Wrong to Support Reconciliation Maneuver for Health Care Plan

by Tom Campbell - No Comments
Posted on February 22nd, 2010 3:47 pm

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tom Campbell:

"When Senator Barbara Boxer and her Democratic colleagues were in the minority in the US Senate, they would routinely block bills they opposed by using the 60-vote requirement to invoke cloture. Now they're complaining that the Republicans are doing the same thing, so they're proposing an end run around the 60-vote requirement using 'reconciliation' – a process that's reserved for bills legitimately and intimately related to the budget process. It was never intended for major policy bills.

"Whether you like or dislike the Democrats’ health care bill, there's no doubt it is a major policy proposal. If 'reconciliation' is used to jam this unpopular proposal through, it can be used for any purpose, essentially killing the 60-vote requirement.

"The 60-vote requirement is an important protection against major policy changes being adopted by the thinnest of majorities. While it's not found in the Constitution itself, the bi-cameral nature of legislation indicates a desire to obtain broad consensus, not just a popular majority, before legislation is enacted.

"In the present context, that necessity is made even clearer by the resounding voice of the American people against what the Democrats attempted to push through as health care reform prior to the Massachusetts Senate election. The American people were particularly repulsed at the abuses of majority power by the special deals worked out for Nebraska and union members. They thought it truly unfair to tax those who have health care insurance packages more generous than what the Democrats’ bill considered 'good enough,' and then exempting union members from that tax.

"If Senator Barbara Boxer and her colleagues use 'reconciliation' to force their plan on the American people, they will have broken faith with the majority of those they represent, and further tarnished, if that were possible, the reputation of the Congress under Democratic rule."

Campbell Campaign Statement on Sen. Boxer Filing

by Campbell Campaign - No Comments
Posted on February 18th, 2010 8:49 am

"Today it became official. Against a backdrop of staggering debt and economic decline, Senator Boxer is going to ask California voters to rehire her for the same job. Time and time again, when it comes to meeting the biggest challenges facing our nation, Senator Boxer chooses more government spending as the answer. In contrast, Tom Campbell's approach is to rein in federal spending so that the economy can grow unimpeded by government. Tom Campbell has already proposed cutting President Obama's proposed budget in half. In contrast, Senator Boxer suggested no cuts. And that is the difference that will be before the voters this November. They will choose between the free spending record of Senator Boxer or the proven frugality of Tom Campbell. The choice will be crystal clear."

Boxer's Prospects

by Tom Campbell - No Comments
Posted on February 16th, 2010 4:35 pm

Our campaign is on the verge of a breakthrough. We've collected an impressive list of endorsements, finance committee members and positive media coverage. Even more importantly, I'm the only candidate with a serious plan for cutting the federal deficit in half without new taxes - and the one candidate political analysts say can defeat Sen. Barbara Boxer.

Stu Rothenberg, one of the most respected political analysts today, in CQPolitics:

[Chuck] DeVore doesn't have the breadth of appeal or money to defeat Boxer, while [Carly] Fiorina has plenty of baggage. ... Boxer's prospects would take a hit, of course, if California Republicans were to nominate former Rep. Tom Campbell, a moderate who would have considerable statewide appeal - if he could accumulate the resources for an expensive statewide race.

Nate Silver, the wunderkind who predicted the presidential primary results, at Fivethirtyeight.com:

...where I'm a little bit skeptical of Carly Fiorina or Chuck DeVore's ability to defeat Barbara Boxer, but where Tom Campbell might have the goods.

When up against Barbara Boxer, who has announced no plan for curbing the deficit, and has a record of reckless spending and expanding the federal government, I have no doubt I will prevail in this race. However, we must get over the first hurdle: the primary. We need to reach every primary voter with our plan for controlling spending, creating jobs and getting our economy back on track. To do that, I need your help.

Many of you have extended your generosity already, and for that I will always be most grateful. If you haven't had a chance to contribute, I would appreciate any amount of support you can offer today.

With sincere thanks,

Tom Campbell

P.S. The most recent neutral polls in this race, Field and PPIC, show that I'm ahead in the primary by 5 and 11 points, respectively, with the best chance against Sen. Boxer. Yet, with four months to go and the expectation of an onslaught of attacks from my opponents, we must reach every single primary voter. I can do that with your help today. Thank you.

Campbell Express

by Team Campbell - No Comments
Posted on February 12th, 2010 5:06 pm

Tom Campbell released his federal budget plan this week that would cut the president's $1.27 trillion deficit in half without new taxes. Tom's plan includes specific recommendations for cutting federal spending by $708 billion, and stopping the president's proposed $17.8 billion tax hike. The plan can be viewed at Campbell.org.

Meanwhile, Carly Fiorina told a group of business owners this week that bankruptcy "should always be considered" an option for California. Trouble is, federal law specifically forbids states from declaring bankruptcy - revealing a disturbing lack of knowledge for a candidate running for federal office. The story is rocketing around the Internet and into the mainstream media.

Earlier in the week, the San Jose Mercury News ran a blistering editorial, calling Carly's "demon sheep" attack on Tom "unfair and misleading," and saying her charges were "ridiculous." "She's likely to play fast and loose with the facts," observed the paper.

San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith, a former Republican Assemblyman and Superior Court Judge, has endorsed Tom, saying:

"I've known Tom Campbell for 20 years and served with him in the State Legislature. We often collaborated on legislation. He's intelligent, independent and honest. If we had a Congress filled with people like Tom Campbell, we'd have balanced budgets. The public needs an honest discussion of how to deal with the overwhelming financial problems we face. We'll get that with Tom Campbell".

Pass it on.

'Fact-checking is not optional' [FCINO?]

by Campbell spokesperson James Fisfis - No Comments
Posted on February 11th, 2010 1:37 pm

Campbell spokesperson James Fisfis responded on behalf of the Campbell campaign:

Fiorina caught on video uninformed on her own internet tax record: "I have no idea what you're referring to. I have no idea what you're talking about."

Carly Fiorina's campaign suffered yet another damaging blow yesterday when she was caught getting her facts wrong - again.

Earlier this week, Carly Fiorina said that California should consider bankruptcy. However, federal law prohibits states from declaring bankruptcy.

Now yesterday, after falsely claiming in her bizarre "demon sheep" video that Tom Campbell supported an internet tax, KGO-TV San Francisco reports that in 2000, Carly Fiorina said, "It's not realistic of our industry to stand and say this taxation should never be applied to e-commerce."

Watch the video report here. Once again, prepare for the bizarre.

The fact is, Tom Campbell has never supported taxing use of the internet. And now it turns out, Carly Fiorina has advocated for the same policy she criticized Tom Campbell for: allowing states to charge sales tax on purchases whether made over the internet or in a store.

Someone please remind Carly Fiorina that if you want to start running a serious campaign for U.S. Senate, 'Fact-checking is not optional' [F.C.I.N.O.?]

Fiorina's Campaign in Mutton Meltdown

by Team Campbell - No Comments
Posted on February 4th, 2010 4:58 pm

Campbell spokesperson James Fisfis responded on behalf of the Campbell campaign:

"Carly Fiorina’s campaign is in full Mutton Meltdown mode, with an increasingly bizarre fixation on farm animals. She’s admitted missing a decade’s worth of opportunities to vote for budget reform, but instead of offering solutions, all she has for voters are dogs, cats and demon-sheep. Equally bizarre is her use of Prop 1A’s principal spokesperson to deliver these attacks. Finally, contrary to Carly Fiorina's insulting portrayal of fiscal conservatives as sheep, these are in fact involved people who engage the issues and ask tough questions. And unlike Carly Fiorina, they have fought alongside Tom Campbell on the front lines of spending reform and supported these reforms with their votes."

Join the Conversation

by Team Campbell - No Comments
Posted on January 28th, 2010 9:27 pm

Tom is hosting a telephone townhall at 7:45pm PST to discuss the President's State of the Union address and how to create jobs and stop uncontrolled spending in Washington. You can join with this number and pin:

Number: 1-877-269-7289
pin: 14990

What others are saying about Tom Campbell

The question for Republicans is which of these candidates gives California the best improvement and still can get elected?
No Comments
Posted on January 25th, 2010 4:14 pm

Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey says Republicans like Campbell’s “impressive” entry into Senate race

Interestingly, Boxer gets less than a majority against Campbell, indicating perhaps more opportunity — at least at this very early stage — than with the other candidates. Campbell only announced for this race on January 14th, at least officially, while the survey was conducted from the 5th to the 17th — all but three days with Campbell not officially declared. That’s an impressive showing, especially since DeVore and Fiorina have been publicly battling for the last few months.

[…]

The question for Republicans is which of these candidates gives California the best improvement and still can get elected? It’s a tough choice, but it’s better to have a wider selection in the primary, and thus far Republicans appear to like Campbell’s entry into the race.

Townhall.com’s Carol Platt Liebau has praise for Campbell

[T]here is space in the Senate race for a rock-hard fiscal conservative with more socially moderate views, like Campbell. He could beat Boxer, and the election would be fought on a fiscal issues template that would play to his (and the GOP's) advantage, rather than on social issues. In my judgment, his male primary opponent cannot win-- even in the most Republican year in the world. And the entire campaign between this opponent and Boxer would be spent on the issue of abortion, because that's all Boxer would want to talk about in hard-core-pro-choice California.

Tom Campbell has more political experience and policy knowledge by miles than Fiorina (and his other likely primary opponent). He's a candidate of whom California Republicans could be proud -- even if, like me, they don't agree with him on the life issue (even there, of course, he's infinitely more pro-life than Boxer!).

Although he is not a cookie-cutter Republican, Tom Campbell is likewise not one of the breed of preening "moderates" who sets conservatives' collective teeth on edge (including mine). He's actually a truly principled guy, who can explain calmly and politely exactly what he believes and why. As I say -- I've worked for him in the past, and although I don't always agree with Tom, I respect him like crazy. (He's also one of the most gracious politicians, personally, that I've ever known).

And, again, he's a candidate who could beat Barbara Boxer and who's about as fiscally conservative as they come.

The Other McCain on Tom’s article about the national debt: “Go, Tom Campbell!”

Godspeed, Mr. Campbell. May you send that [deleted] Boxer packing, with lots of bubble wrap.

Law professor Stephen Bainbridge likes Campbell’s specific proposals on cutting back the size of government

They [the GOP] are going to have to convince us that they are again worthy of our trust. […]

· Take the American people at their word and identify specific programs that would be cut in making government smaller. (Tom Campbell's recent op-ed was a step in the right direction) 

· Campbell's proposal to bring back Gramm Rudman Hollings is kind of like chicken soup when you're sick: It can't hurt and might just help a little.

The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room: Campbell “formidable.”

Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore are yesterday's news […] the new guy in the race certainly begins in a formidable position.

CQ's Eye on 2010 is amused by others' reaction to the Field Poll

There are only so many ways to spin when your boss has spent millions of her own money only to be overtaken by a late entrant.

Red County’s Chip Hanlon, to his credit, predicted correctly that Campbell would be the instant front-runner

In fact, far from the automatic third place contestant many suspect he will be, I won't be surprised if Campbell actually polls as the frontfunner out of the gate.

Reporter Martin Kasindorf

I'm tempted to send some money to the newly announced campaign of former Congressman Tom Campbell for the U.S. Senate seat of incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer in the 2010 Republican primary. I have been watching Campbell's career of achievement for years.

[…]

I find Boxer to be an annoying yenta; I don't like her style, though she is a progressive. So if Campbell became the GOP nominee, I'd be tempted to vote for him. And it's not just because Boxer rubs me the wrong way. There are positive reasons: Campbell is impressively smart, personable, soft-spoken. He represented Silicon Valley in Congress for nine years. He has been in the California Senate, he's been Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's state budget director and he has headed UC Berkeley's business school. Currently he's a law professor at conservative Chapman University in Orange County. It's a fine resume.

THE POLL-WATCHERS

Nate Silver of 538 (a top election analyst) says "any scenario in which the Republicans hope to pare the Democrats down to 49 or 50 seats will probably have to run through California" and Tom Campbell "would be a more formidable threat."

California

40% Boxer 52.9 81% Fiorina 44.8 19%
20% Boxer 54.3 87% Devore 43.5 13%
40% Boxer 51.5 72% Campbell 46.2 28%
---
Aggregate 52.6 79% Aggregate 45.1 21%

This is an interesting one. Boxer, whose approval ratings have been tepid, was probably going to get a bit of a mulligan if the politically daft Carly Fiorina had been the nominee, but Tom Campbell, who just entered the Senate race, would be a more formidable threat. Boxer is the favorite nevertheless, but any scenario in which the Republicans hope to pare the Democrats down to 49 or 50 seats will probably have to run through California.

Swing State Project explains how Campbell’s appeal pulled support from DeVore, and indicates that Campbell’s challenge to Boxer is reason to start monitoring the race.

The Field Poll (it's become kind of cliched to refer to them as the "gold standard" for California pollsters, but their reputation precedes them) checks in on the California Senate race […]

Campbell had released an internal poll last week that showed him leading Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore 31-15-12, suggesting that he was eating equally into Fiorina and DeVore supporters. But the Field poll suggests that this is almost coming entirely out of DeVore's share -- initially strange since there's a sharp contrast between Campbell's Silicon Valley moderatism and DeVore's O.C. conservatism. But it makes sense when you think that much of DeVore's support was coming from the seemingly ascendant libertarian side of the party (and that social conservatives have been unusually quiet lately), and many of them are likely to embrace the socially liberal but fiscally hawkish Campbell.

As for the general, Field sees little movement in the last four months in the Boxer/Fiorina and Boxer/DeVore matchups, suggesting that Barbara Boxer hasn't seemed to sustain much personal damage from the withering of the Democratic brand. As I'd feared, though, the amiable and well-known Campbell polls noticeably better against Boxer than the others -- at ten points, not enough to start hitting the panic button, but indicating that this race will need to be carefully monitored. (Rasmussen recently showed this a closer [race] than that, but, well, what else is new.) Taking into account Campbell's apparent likelihood of winning the primary and the overall national environment, that's enough for us to move this race back onto the board at "Likely Democratic."

Campaign Diaries says Boxer isn’t safe and Campbell is “the GOP’s best bet to win a statewide race”

Even the Field Poll finds that Boxer can’t be considered safe, since she does not clear the 50% threshold against Campbell, who is confirming expectations that he would be the GOP’s best bet to win a statewide race.

Politics Nation (RealClearPolitics) on the Field Poll results

Campbell jumps out front against previous front-runner Carly Fiorina, while conservative Assemblyman Chuck DeVore trails by a significant margin.

 

Next Stop: California

If a less-government-more-freedom Republican can win in Massachusetts, we can win anywhere...including California.
by Tom Campbell - No Comments
Posted on January 20th, 2010 2:43 pm

Dear Friends,

Congratulations to Scott Brown on his tremendous victory in Massachusetts!

The headlines are being written: if a less-government-more-freedom Republican can win in Massachusetts, we can win anywhere...including California.

Brown's victory shows that Republicans, Independents and fiscally responsible Democrats alike know that our nation's financial direction is suicidal and that change is needed.

And with Senator Barbara Boxer's free-wheeling support for policies that increase federal spending and expand government, it's critical that we take a new direction in California.

I have consistently supported not spending more than we have and cutting wasteful government spending, and I'm ready to do so as your Senator. However, to travel our great state and communicate to as many voters as possible, I need your help.

Could you so kindly contribute to my campaign for U.S. Senate?

In Massachusetts, Brown made clear that the election was not for Ted Kennedy's seat, it was for the people's seat. The people responded with their online contributions, commitment to volunteer, and ultimately, their vote. If we are to replace Sen. Barbara Boxer, I need that same level of investment.

Can you please consider making a contribution to help my campaign get my message out: less government, more freedom, and individual liberty?

That's how I will represent you as your Senator, and it's the only way we will stop the accelerating pattern of uncontrolled spending in Washington and the greatest expansion of federal government in modern American history.

With sincere gratitude,
Tom

P.S. The election in Massachusetts showed us something else: there is no safe candidate with an easy path to victory. You must earn the support of the people, and that is what I plan to do throughout this campaign, and if I'm honored to be elected your U.S. Senator. I appreciate any help you can provide today.

Initial state of the race:

Campbell leads: best known, best-liked and winning "strong conservatives"
by James Fisfis, Senior Advisor - No Comments
Posted on January 14th, 2010 9:50 am

A survey completed January 10, 2010 of likely voters conducted by James Fisfis, Vice President of Wilson Research Strategies and President of Chariot LLC shows the current state of the GOP primary.