super ad libs russ feingold and barbara boxer are heading for a beating...and one or both could be on the unemployment line...
Democrats, Republicans gather to watch Senate candidates Boxer and Fiorina debate
By Tony Castro, Staff Writer
Boxer, Fiorina tussle over economy in first debate.
Fitting for an election year of multimillion-dollar TV ad campaigns, both Republican and Democratic faithful in the San Fernando Valley were glued to large TV screens watching the debate between U.S. Senate candidates Wednesday night.
"It is ironic that politics in California can't get away from television - the candidates pour large amounts of money into it to get known, and we have television viewing parties when they debate," said Democratic activist Marilyn Grunwald, who attended a gathering at her party's Valley headquarters in Van Nuys.
The first debate between incumbent Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer and her Republican challenger, former Hewlett-Packard boss Carly Fiorina, was telecast live from St.Mary's College in the Bay Area.
The hour-long forum focused primarily on who is best suited to help the economy out of the recession, but other topics included abortion, immigration and gay marriage.
Seeking her fourth term, Boxer holds a substantial fundraising advantage over her challenger, but is still seen as facing a tough battle because the economy has left voters in an anti-incumbent mood.
The crowd at the Valley Democratic viewing party was obviously partisan, but its numbers - perhaps three dozen when the debate began - paled in comparison to the 200 or so who gathered at the local Republican bash held at Galpin Ford in North Hills.
"It's Carly hands down," Republican Kurt Schroeder declared halfway through
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watching the debate amid a packed second-floor conference room at the car dealership.
"The question for Mrs. Boxer - pardon me, Senator Boxer - is where are the jobs? And that's what Carly has hammered her on. We have 13 percent unemployment in California. It's probably 20 percent here in Southern California. People are hurting, and it's time for a change in Washington.
"And Carly's shown it should be her and not Barbara Boxer."
Each crowd cheered loudly for points made in the debate by their respective candidate, with the expected guffawing of the opponents.
At the Democratic party, held at a now-defunct Hollywood Video store, Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, possibly underscored the challenge facing Boxer in what polls suggest to be a close race.
"Barbara Boxer will not win without a big turnout of the voters in the San Fernando Valley," he told viewers.
Those at the Galpin Ford party got a special treat after the debate when Fiorina addressed her followers on a special Internet connection.
For Nancy Spero of Tarzana, Fiorina's candidacy, along with that of GOP gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman, has given her hope for strong Republican women emerging to lead the state. "It's a very exciting campaign, and I'm looking forward to the next two months of it," said Spero, the state executive vice president of the California Republican League, the moderate arm of the GOP.
Among Democrats there was clear concern at the amount of money the wealthy Fiorina was pouring into her own campaign.
"The money has no doubt leveled the playing field," said Grunwald. "We'll just have to have more volunteers than they have dollars."
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