Carly Fiorina picks up endorsements from moderate, conservative groups

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The New Majority California, an influential group formed by moderate Republicans in Orange County a decade ago, is backing former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina in the three-way Republican race to replace U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer.

The group’s chairman, Larry Higby, said the decision was “a relatively close call” between Fiorina and former Rep. Tom Campbell, a fiscal conservative who supported gay marriage and abortion rights.

“The main issue was that we felt that Carly had a much better chance to beat Barbara Boxer,” said Higby, adding that Fiorina’s business background and her debating skills were viewed as major assets. “I think that really swung members that way.”

The New Majority, which now has more than 300 members in four chapters, was formed in 1999 with the aim of electing more mainstream, fiscally conservative Republicans. Each of the group’s members is required to contribute $10,000 annually.

The group’s members were prominent backers of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003. Its annual budget is $3.5 million, according to its website. In the first quarter of this year, the New Majority California’s federal political action committee reported about $56,000 in cash on hand.

John J. Pitney Jr., a government professor at Claremont McKenna College, said the nod could make a difference for Fiorina “if they put their checkbooks where their endorsement is.”

Fiorina also announced the endorsement Tuesday of the California Pro-Life Council, an affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee. Both Fiorina and the third Republican candidate in the race, Orange County Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, oppose abortion rights. But California Pro-Life Council Executive Director Brian Johnston said in a statement released by Fiorina’s campaign that the former Hewlett-Packard executive was “clearly the only pro-life candidate who can beat both Tom Campbell and Barbara Boxer.”

-- Maeve Reston