California Republicans see hope in Massachusetts

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Scott Brown’s victory in the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts on Tuesday has given hope to the Republicans trying to defeat Barbara Boxer.

‘The era of saying, well, something’s a blue state and is always going to be a blue state is over,’ said California Senate candidate Carly Fiorina, speaking Tuesday afternoon to reporters after a speech to businesspeople in North Hollywood. ‘Voters are engaged.’

Massachusetts had not elected a Republican senator since 1972, and Republicans in California are hoping they can ride a wave of anti-Democratic fervor to big victories in November in places Republicans had never thought possible -- like California.

Now all three of Boxer’s challengers will try to draw parallels to themselves and Brown. Assemblyman Chuck DeVore and former Congressman Tom Campbell both weighed in after the Brown victory.

DeVore and others were effervescant on Twitter, and Campbell was the first out of the gate with an official statement on Brown’s victory.

‘His win is a tremendous victory for every American taxpayer, regardless of party, who’s concerned about the suicidal direction Congress and the president are taking our economy,’ Campbell said in a written statement. ‘Clearly, the people have spoken, and clearly they want to change course.’

-- Seema Mehta