If Washington analysis would be any indication, Carly Fiorina was once hardly an afterthought in the Republican Senate primary in California. But the experts turned out to be wrong.
Her main opponent, former-Rep. Tom Campbell, had huge advantages that many thought the non-politician wouldn't be able to overcome. Campbell boasted large name recognition among Republican voters, having run for statewide elections twice before, and he had served nearly a decade in Washington. And from a policy perspective, Campbell promised a more "moderate" agenda, which supposedly gave him widespread appeal among voters in California.
But Fiorina wouldn't relent. The former Hewlett-Packard CEO fought back. And last tonight she won an impressive victory in California.
There was another issue at play in this election. Tom Campbell came under much criticism for policies perceived to be anti-Israel. (Almost a decade-long record of controversial votes, coupled with admiration for such conspiracy-crazies such as Alison Weir.) Perhaps more importantly: He had, in the past, defended terrorists, particularly Sami Al-Arian, and donated personal money to the Gitmo bar.
No matter how much Campbell tried to play down these charges of anti-Israel sentiment and ties to terrorists, he hasn't able to overcome the well-deserved stigma. Fiorina made this an issue.
So, what lessons can we learn from the Republican primary that might be applicable to Fiorina's battle against Barbara Boxer in the general election? Like Campbell, Boxer boasts impressive name recognition among California voters. Like Campbell, Boxer has many years experience in Washington. Like Campbell, Boxer holds more liberal views than Fiorina. And, like Campbell, Boxer is arguably less of a supporter of Israel than Fiorina and the junior senator certainly remains softer on terrorists.
She'll surely continue her message that turned out to be successful with Republican voters -- that she's not a career politician, that she'd be able to shake things up in Washington, that she's an ardent supporter of Israel, that she's hard on terror, that she has a conservative solutions, and that she has real world business experience.
But will the message resonate with general election voters in California just as it did with Republicans in primary?