Whitman, Fiorina: 2 Measures of How Liberal California Is

The candidacies of Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina can serve as an interesting experiment into how liberal California still is. Her immigration troubles aside, Whitman has followed the traditional Republican strategy of tacking to the center after primary in hopes of gaining the support of independents and moderate Democrats. Besides, she is considered "Schwarzeneggerian"—a centrist Republican with appeal to Democrats. Carly Fiorina is a bird of a different feather, writes Maeve Reston for the LA Times.

"Carlyfornia" has stuck to the Tea-Party inflected stances she staked out during the primary, in a bid that Republican enthusiasm will trump the general advantage that Democrats have in the state. Fiorina's campaign manager points out that her hardline views on abortion immigration and climate change are genuine, and that it would "devastating" to flip-flop. Still, if she wins, it will mean that California has changed from light blue to purple—and if the old saying is true, the nation will be close behind.