Fiorina refuses to run as a moderate

The Washington Times ^ | 9/12/2010 | Valerie Richardson

[Servant of the Cross]

After Carly Fiorina won California's Republican Senate primary, many analysts expected her to shake off her conservative mantle and make a lunge for the moderate middle in the general election against liberal incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer.

That's not how it has played out.

Mrs. Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO who's seeking public office for the first time, hasn't tweaked her positions in the slightest. She's still as pro-life, anti-tax and anti-illegal-immigration as she was when she defeated two Republican challengers in June.

"Carly, unlike a normal Republican, who would track to the right in the primary and then go to the center, isn't doing that," said Los Angeles-based Republican political analyst Allan Hoffenblum. "She's all over Fox News and [conservative talk show host Sean] Hannity. She's really running a hard-core conservative campaign, not giving an inch."

This may be the year of the Republican, but this is also California, where President Obama remains popular and Republican registration has plummeted to less than 31 percent of voters, a historic low. If there's any place where Republican candidates can be forgiven for softening their tune, it's the Golden State.

It's too early to say whether the Fiorina strategy will pay off, but so far it's keeping her in contention. After trailing Mrs. Boxer for months in hypothetical matchups, Mrs. Fiorina has inched ahead, leading 49 percent to 42 percent among voters who have decided on a candidate, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released last week.(snip)

The problem this year is that social issues and the environment are taking back seats to the economy. California's unemployment rate has climbed to 12.3 percent, with voters now less interested in saving the whales than saving their homes and jobs.

[Servant of the Cross]

FWIW. To me, it's ABB (Anybody But Boxer) ...

[MrB]

Sincerely tell them what you believe, Carly -

it’s something that no democRat can do.

[SharpRightTurn]

BTTT

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Republican registration has plummeted to less than 31 percent of voters, a historic low.

Maybe that's because CA voters are sick to death of feculant RINOs.

[arthurus]

unlike a normal Republican, who would track to the right in the primary and then go to the center,

That describes a disease that afflicts Republicans and weakens them, some enough to prevent them from winning elections. Whatever Mrs. Fiorina is taking, I hope she doesn't go off it.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

And give some of what she’s taking to the R California Governor candidate, too!

[Moose Burger]

“If there’s any place where Republican candidates can be forgiven for softening their tune..”

Why does that line keep coming up? A Dem-lite can’t win against regular Dems. It just makes no sense.

[Lakeshark]

Interesting article ping.

[Bigtigermike]

Yes it is....considering some here kept saying that Carly was a RINO to the core!...Hmmm!

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Fiorina’s Conservative campaign makes some of the Chicken Littles on this forum look foolish now doesn’t it.

[Servant of the Cross]

“If there’s any place where Republican candidates can be forgiven for softening their tune..”

Huh? The only place I see this line come up is in your post. The basis of this article is that Fiorina is NOT running as Dem lite.

[Lakeshark]

I'm surprised she's not tacked a bit to the middle, particularly in California. There were a couple of California posters that claim they refuse to vote for her (sour grapes), let's hope that's just the few maniacs on FR

It's very refreshing, and yes, the 1%ers are very saddened..........

[Tennessean4Bush]

I was thinking the same thing. I am a big Fiorini fan after reading this article.

[Brices Crossroads]

“I’m surprised she’s not tacked a bit to the middle, particularly in California.”

Sarah Palin supported a conservative who could actually take out the odious Barbara Boxer. And Palin’s judgment is once again vindicated.

It looks like Sarah Palin was right and the naysayers and doubters were wrong. As usual.

[CAluvdubya]

ABB...yep.

I have an easier time voting for Fiorina than I do NutMeg (Whitman).

At least Fiorina is pretending to be somewhat conservative on a few issues. As opposed to NutMeg, who isn't concerned with that at all.

[ken21]

whatta joke!

fiorina is no conservative.

[USS Alaska]

Mrs. Fiorina has inched ahead, leading 49 percent to 42 percent among voters who have decided on a candidate, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released last week.

49 to 42 is now considered inching ahead.

If Boxer was leading the headline would be, "IT'S OVER, BOXER BY 7%"

[Moose Burger]

Uh? Fifth paragraph on the main post. “This may be the year of the Republican, but this is also California, where President Obama remains popular and Republican registration has plummeted to less than 31 percent of voters, a historic low. If there’s any place where Republican candidates can be forgiven for softening their tune, it’s the Golden State.”

I point it out because it’s common enough for people to be amazed when Fiorina doesn’t do it.

[q_an_a]

Yes and all those HP people that thought Hurd was so great and she so bad. He used sexy women at conferences to “chat up” big buyers and also got a 50 million dollar bribery fine...on top of cutting the R&D budget, which are engineering jobs, by 30%. Hurd good Fiorina bad, other guys are good she is bad, what is the common demoninator?

[Haiku Guy]

I think this is a winning strategy. In this election, it is not about percentages. It is about intensity. If Fiorina goes squishy-RINO and her voters lose their intensity, they will be overwhelmed by the “professional voters”, who are 100% Democrat.

I would rather have 40% of the electorate turn out 90% than have 51% of the electorate turn out 60%. The only way to beat Boxer is to ensure that each and every Conservative-minded voter has a darn good reason to make it to the polls.