I just got an email from California Democratic Party chairman John Burton that's a blistering attack on Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who recently announced she was entering the race for California's next U.S. Senator as a Republican, thus challenging Senator Barbara Boxer. I can actually hear the legendary Burton say these words:
“The last thing Californians need in a U.S. Senator is a failed CEO who was fired by her last employer after taking $100 million for herself.
“In these tough times, hard-working Californians need a Senator who will fight to create jobs, not a millionaire former executive who laid off more than 28,000 Americans and shipped jobs overseas.
“Carly Fiorina may have millions to spend on a Senatorial race, but Californians will not be snookered by yet another millionaire neophyte in search of a new hobby.
“Maybe Fiorina’s ill-advised run for Senate will finally inspire her to take the time to vote.
“Senator Boxer and the California Democratic Party will be ready for Assemblymember Chuck DeVore, Fiorina or whoever wins the Republican primary in 2010.”
Now we see how "Carly 2.0" is going to be attacked by the California Democratic Party: first on political experience as she has little save for advising then-Presidential candidate Senator John McCain (and where she said neither McCain or Vice Presidential Running Mate Sarah Palin could run a company) ; second on wealth as Florina didn't leave HP poor but her income is after yesterday's election officially a liability (New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg almost lost his bid for a third term after spending almost $100 million in that city's mayor's race.); third on her voting record, where she's only voted five times in the last 18 elections.
Senator John McCain and Carly Florina
That kind of disengagement can and will be used by Dems as a "hammer and pound" message in the campaign. And why not: it works. The only person I can think of who was similarly disengaged in his past was Ross Perot, but the famous entrepreneur over came all of his weaknesses with a blast of personality in his Presidential run.
The other question I have is will Carly invite the Right Wingnuts to help her in her Senate bid. They lost their last election, that in New York State's 23rd District when Bill Owens beat Doug Hoffman, and were rejected by Republican gubenatorial candidate and now Governor-elect Bob McDonnell in Virginia.
Can Carly keep the Right Wingnuts off her campaign and present a blast of personality that overcomes her weaknesses? I have my doubts, but let's see if "Carly 2.0" is really a new version of Carly Fiorina or just a marketing slogan. Frankly, I can't wait for the first debate in this contest!
"second on wealth as Florina didn't leave HP poor but her income is after yesterday's election officially a liability"
ReplyDeleteI think you mean Fiorina... Same error is on SFGATE
Got it. Don't know how that was - the only one in the blog post. Oh, well. Thanks.
ReplyDelete