All that being said, I am voting for Tom Campbell, for whom I have done some work over the years -- and I hope other California Republicans will vote for him, too.
I realize that Campbell's candidacy is controversial among some Republicans as he is a social moderate (though a good fiscal conservative -- voted the "cheapest man in Congress" when he was there).
For those of you who are yourselves social moderates, this is a good opportunity to support someone who shares your views. For those of you (like me) who are social conservatives, there is one thing to keep in mind: Polling shows Tom Campbell as the Republican who is best positioned to defeat Barbara Boxer this fall. Beating Boxer is central to GOP hopes for retaking the Senate -- and thereby empowering the conservatives there.
Perhaps that's why conservatives like George Shulz, Ward Connerly and Bill Simon have endorsed Campbell -- along with the editorial boards of ten newspapers (including conservative papers like the Orange County Register and Bakersfield Californian).
Carly Fiorina has been competing hard for the nomination, but she will have serious vulnerabilities in the fall election -- including her stewardship of Hewlett Packard and other matters referenced in the ad here: http://www.thebookoncarly.com/. If you take a moment to watch it, I believe you'll be convinced that not only will Boxer defeat her, but her candidacy will be used against Republicans generally to paint them as the "stooges" of "greedy" big businesspeople.
Carly Fiorina has been competing hard for the nomination, but she will have serious vulnerabilities in the fall election -- including her stewardship of Hewlett Packard and other matters referenced in the ad here: http://www.thebookoncarly.com/. If you take a moment to watch it, I believe you'll be convinced that not only will Boxer defeat her, but her candidacy will be used against Republicans generally to paint them as the "stooges" of "greedy" big businesspeople.
I don't agree with Tom Campbell on everything, but I believe he is a principled, smart man who is honest about where he does and doesn't agree with the "conservative line." And I can respect someone who is forthright with me -- rather than someone who presents herself as a doctrinaire conservative when talking with them, and then appears to be something else altogether when she's with others.
For more information about him, check out www.campbell.org.