As an early supporter of the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in the (once-)Golden State, I’m feeling pretty good today. Not only did my gal Carly win the Republican primary, but she also won more votes than all her opponents combined (including the no-names) and with a few tens of thousands of votes to spare.
I was hoping Fiorina would break 50%, giving her a good head of steam into the contest against a partisan Democrat with a record of nasty campaigning. Fiorina’s final tally was over 55%, clocking it at 56.2%. She won every county in the state, save four in Barbara Boxer’s base, the San Francisco Bay Area.
Initially, she ran a few points behind Tom Campbell. She beat him last night by nearly 35 points (more points than she tallied in early polling).
How’d she do it?
Money for one. In a state like California, you’re gonna need a lot of money to get your message out. With her big victory last night, she’s in a better position to raise money for the fall campaign. She can impress donors with her ability to raise money and to pump her own funds into the campaign.
New Media. As I pointed out last night, Carly has been reaching out to bloggers since Day One. And while I’ve long been bullish on this accomplished woman, her campaign came to me (and other bloggers) early on, promoting the campaign and soliciting our support. They came to us. (They have a savvy web person in regular contact with bloggers–one who is quick to respond to e-mails and otherwise respond to queries.)
And it wasn’t just through bloggers that her campaign turned to new media to promote her campaign. Her team put together some pretty creative web videos (see them here) which generated a lot of buzz in the internets (not just blogosphere), drawing attention to the campaign. Watch for even more amusing (and devastating) videos attacking incumbent Boxer’s arrogance and accomplishments (well, lack thereof).
Message. Carly ran on Reaganite ideas, appealing to social conservatives to be sure, but like the Gipper, keeping the focus on opposition to big government and support for free-market solutions to our economic woes. Support from such conservative stalwarts as Tom Coburn and Sarah Palin certainly helped her solidify her base. Watch for Boxer to attack Fiorina on the Palin endorsement. If Carly can parry that and keep the focus on economic issues, she will strengthen her position for the fall campaign.
Moxie. Carly showed tremendous determination on the campaign trail, first when attacked from the right by Chuck DeVore, later from the left by Tom Campbell. The campaign regularly sent out e-mails alerting us to the candidate’s travels across the state. It is this quality which will help her the most in the fall campaign. She has proven herself to be a determined challenger. She’ll keep fighting as she faces a more relentless foe in the hyperpartisan 28-year Capitol Hill veteran.
Nice posting Dan. Great to have read some insights regarding her victory. This is indeed good news. I always felt she got screwed at Hewlett Packard, and it’s exciting to hear that what she has to offer is being put back on the table with this run for Senate. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday in Brattleboro!
Carly got stronger and stronger as the primary campaign wore on. Initially, I wanted to vote for her but I wondered if she had the fortitude needed to campaign as a Republican here in very hostile territory. And, thank you, Daniel, for vouching for her. Endorsements matter.
I hope Carly Fiorina finally wins this November along with Meg Whitman. California needs to fix its economical and immigration issues, and other issues.
I looked at Barbara Boxer’s votes and those are in the million range. Moderates and most (or all) of those people who voted for the other Republican candidates for U.S. Senate could and should vote for Fiorina in November. Maybe a few Boxer voters can change their minds and vote for Fiorina. Its the sensible thing to do.
LOL. Fiorina is a moron who can’t handle a hot mic. Her condescending comments about Whitman’s strategies, caught on tape, show a sanctimonious and out-of-touch wanna-be who will never win the general election.
Gee, sounds like BNL is afraid.
Of course he’s busy hoping that Ted Strickland’s ‘Drunk inmates at the mansion fest, 2010 edition’ stays buried.
Strickland’s issues with the inmates program has hardly been buried. The right-wing rag, The Columbus Dispatch, has made sure of that. It’s a disgrace and changes will need to be made to that program, for sure.
As for the governor’s race in Ohio, I would be surprised if Strickland retains his seat. Kasich will be another GOP disaster, but the electorate in this state is hardly educated. Strickland needs to continue hammering home how out of the mainstream Kasich is, what with all his Wall Street dollars and connections. That’s Strickland’s only chance.
The CA senate seat is now finished. Fiorina showed who she is; a snarky bitch. Voters hate that.
You think so, BNL?
Oh, that’s right; you don’t recognize attacking and trashing the military and voters as being snarky or bitchy.
You said Coakley would win in Massachusetts. Again, you demonstrate that Obama Party voters and syncophants like yourself are truly delusional and out of touch with reality.
All we can say is that, truly, if you represent the Ohio electorate, they truly ARE stupid. But what I think is more likely is that you represent the Obama Party electorate, not anyone with common sense or intelligence.
That is fear in his eyes.
Yes, Kaisich’s ‘business connections’. To the rest of the world, this means ‘working for a living’.
Maybe bnl means Kaisich’s living rent free in the apartment of one of BP’s consultants oh wait…
Or maybe his cozy relations with BP? sorry, wrong again.
Or maybe his continued approval of BP’s plans after this disaster darn, wrong again.
See, the proble is to BNL working for ‘wall street’ is bad. taking money, benefits and looking the other way is just fine.
Maybe bnl’s a teacher and is afraid Kaisich is going to go all Chris Christie on him?
Sorry. Still not doing cartwheels over Fiorina’s victory. She managed to run a high-level computer manufacturer into the ground. Not impressed.
I suppose it’s best to get fired over the winner in the “anyone but Boxer,” but I can’t feel it.
Me, I would have voted for Kaus, but I don’t live in the People’s Republic. 🙂
Feh. Should have read ‘get fired up over the winner in the “anyone but Boxer tournament,” ‘
Dehydration + four beers = time to go to bed.
Well…..putting money at #1 pretty much says it all about all politics in general.