Tom Campbell

Poll: Tom Campbell Leads Republican Senate Primary In California; GOPers All Trail Boxer

Eric Kleefeld | January 21, 2010, 10:11AM

Former Rep. Tom Campbell (R-CA)

Former Rep. Tom Campbell (R-CA), who recently switched from the gubernatorial race to instead run for Senate against incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer, has now become the leader in the GOP Senate primary, according to the new Field Poll. The big loser for now is state Rep. Chuck DeVore, whose support has collapsed in the process.

The numbers: Campbell 30%, former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina 25%, and DeVore 6%, with 39% undecided. Back in October, Fiorina had 21% and DeVore 20%, before Campbell entered the race. All three Republicans trail Boxer in the general election matches. Boxer leads Campbell by 48%-38%, leads Fiorina by 50%-35%, and leads DeVore by 51%-34%.

Campbell, a socially liberal and economically libertarian Republican, previously served in Congress from 1989-1993, then narrowly lost the Republican primary for Senate to run against Barbara Boxer in an open-seat race. He returned to Congress in a 1995 special election, then became the Republican nominee for Senate in 2000 against Dianne Feinstein, losing in a landslide.

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