There will be many interesting battles in the 2010 Congressional elections. Perhaps none will be more intriguing than a potential Barbara Boxer - Carly Fiorina matchup in California.
Carly Fiorina
Democrat Barbara Boxer will be seeking a fourth term in the U.S. Senate in 2010. She represents California and is a mainstream Democrat that voters link with the Obama administration.
Though Carly Fiorina has not yet announced her candidacy, she seems to be the most likely candidate to run against the veteran Boxer. The ex-CEO of Hewlett-Packard is a California native who served a pivotal role in John McCain’s presidential campaign. She also is a multi-millionaire who can fund a massive campaign. She would likely have the support of many big businesses in the Silicon Valley area, which could give her millions more in campaign money.
Boxer would still be the favorite in such a race. She is a household name in California, and she has had high approval ratings during her career. However, if Obama’s approval rating continues to sink, and the record unemployment rate in California remains high, Boxer may be facing a referendum against Obama. In the same way that McCain could not shake Bush’s legacy, Boxer may not be able to shake Obama’s.
Personally, I think Carly Fiorina would be a great candidate for California. She is too socially moderate for many conservatives, but frankly, a social conservative could not win in California anyway. She also has business credibility and private sector leadership credentials, two things that is much needed in Washington these days.
Run, Carly, Run!
Photo: Antonio Milena; Photo Available Here: http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/imagens
August 17th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Well personally I would want Duncan Hunter for the Senate, because I really do like him yet there’s no chance of that. He could match Boxer in funds,lacks the charisma, and is way to conservative for a liberal state like California. Now Fiorina has so much money that she could blow Boxer away with her friends in the computer industry, is 14 years younger than Boxer, and she’s about the same level of conservatism as John Mccain so she would be considered a moderate. I also bet Fiorina supports are troops and doesn’t think if crap and tax is passed it wont lead to disaster. With the money that Fiorina has she could pull off a victory. I feel that are good friend Arnold and the Democratic b1tch Barbara Boxer are both going home in 2010. And yes I’m aware that Arnold no matter what is leaving, because of the term limit.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I’d love for Fiorina to beat Boxer, but I think the comic value of having Boxer with a liberal legislature would be fun to. Imagine how bankrupt the state is with a supposed GOP as a governor.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
though i think boxer gives us all great comic relief, i would love carly fiorina to beat boxer — she needs to go and is an embarrassment to the people of california.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
You know in my dream world states would have an amendment that would only allow them to tax through fees and services. I mean they probably could if they were smart and conservative Think they can charge for sports in and unneeded programs in schools like French or Latin,charge stores for selling beer and smokes,find people for speeding, legalize gambling in states and charge for licenses,raise the price of tollbooths,increase price of putting signs on highways,and just increase a serious of other services and fines. I mean the idea of a tax free state is possible, but we would have to seriously cut spending. States should focus on only two things education and dealing with crime. I mean you can get 100,000 cops making 50,000 a year for 5 billion dollars a year. And education can be funded by charging for programs like sports and classes that aren’t need plus year books.
August 17th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Boxer does not have strong ties or loyalty in CA. As one that lives in northern CA, I understand that she is easier to beat than most politicians but the problem is that the Reps always run extreme conservatives against her in a moderately-left state and that allows her to define them as extreme and defeat them by default. Whether you like Arnold or not, and I for one think he made tremendous blunders this last term, he is the kind of Rep that Californians generally like. I am no Rino but in the state of California, a true-conservative cannot win the Senate or Governorship at this point so running a moderate Rep is the only way to win a major statewide race. Failure to accept this truism is idiotic and a waste of political capital. Otherwise, the Reps should forego a statewide candidate altogether and let the Dems win by default, and instead the Reps should use the money to focus on local races. Boxer is weak in CA but the extreme conservatives they run against her are ALWAYS weaker.
August 17th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I think Fiorina could beat the sox off “call me senator” Boxer….Ms. Boxer is a disgusting elitist without a clue regarding how to treat people with dignity and respect.
August 17th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I don’t think Fiorina would mind being called “ma’am” by a general…even if she worked so hard to become a senator.
August 17th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Listen Fiorina brings with her some serious coin so she’ll be able to beat Boxer in that area, but she has one problem. And that is going to be Boxer blaming Arnold for all that states problems. So it would be important for the TV ads to push blame on Boxer.
August 17th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Honestly, at this point it doesn’t matter who the governor of California is. They don’t have much power, it takes 2/3 vote in the legislature to do anything and if it got Boxer out of the Senate it might be worth it if we lost. Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather have Fiorina as governor I guess, but if she loses it won’t be too bad.
August 17th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Wait are we talking about Fiorina as senator or governor? Well anyway, I hope she can talk in a debate about how and why she was booted out by HP’s board following the company tanking under her leadership. According to the linked article:
Shares of HP (Research) jumped 6.9 percent in heavy trading on the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday on the news. But at one point, the stock was up as much as 10.5 percent.
“The stock is up a bit on the fact that nobody liked Carly’s leadership all that much,” said Robert Cihra, an analyst with Fulcrum Global Partners. “The Street had lost all faith in her and the market’s hope is that anyone will be better.”
Her appearances on cable during the McCain campaign were awesomely memorable, especially when she said on national television that “I don’t think John McCain could run a major corporation” and later said the same thing about Palin on radio…. and was mysteriously not heard from much after that.
August 17th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Yeah, I work in the tech industry, blog in the tech industry and know it intimately. The best thing you can say about Fiorina was that she was not memorable, at worst she really did drive HP down with her purchase of Compaq. Plus, as Name said, she was basically silenced by the McCain campaign. If you are too stupid for the McCain campaign then yeah, not sure about that.
August 18th, 2009 at 6:04 am
Bryan:
The only thing that bothers me about Fiorina is that she was the head of the Mccain campaign. So just looking at that and you’ll say she can’t be the best campaigner. Yet in 2010 Boxer will be what 70 years old so I doubt she’ll be a great campaigner to. Now she wasn’t the worst CEO in the world, because HP is still a very big a popular company. Granted I’m a big Mac fan, but still she did OK. Now when it comes to looking at what Boxer or almost anyone else in the senate.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Seriously…does anyone think that Cali won’t be making some major changes soon? I honestly believe Californian’s are as fed up…maybe more so, as Michiganders.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I’m going to agree with Bryan here. She would be an improvement over Boxer, but the issues with the McCain campaign ought to be addressed if she’s going to be effective.
August 18th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I am delighted to finally have a chance to replace Boxer and I am doubly delighted that the woman to do it will be Carly Fiorina! Go Carly, I am behind you!
August 18th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Get rid of the far left Barbara Boxer. She and Nancy Pelosi should be gone.
August 18th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
what exactly are fiorina’s talents? or strong suit?
August 19th, 2009 at 12:17 am
I for 2 are happy to see her run and hope she makes it. If you want to know about her and her ideas, read wikipedia. I would be very very happy to see honesty and job concerns meet.
August 19th, 2009 at 6:41 am
I feel that this could be an election we can win do to the failures of obama,less popularity for Dems, and Fiorina having the money to win. I would still prefer Duncan Hunter,but lets face it that wont happen unless she really screws up soon. Now I want Pataki to run for senate and beat Gilibrand. I think Charlie Crist will do a good job in the senate. Also I feel that Mitt Romney should run for senator.
August 19th, 2009 at 6:47 am
sandy that’s not an explanation. does anyone know what her talents are besides her looks and her corporate republicanness? is the choice either a corporate shill(republican) or a people person(boxer)?
August 19th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Brian, when you call Fiorina a corporate shill and Boxer a people person, you are suggesting that a capitalist cannot be a people person. This is not necessarily true.
A truer comparison would be a corporate shill (Republican) vs. a power hungry, egomaniacal, socialist scumbag. (Democrat)