Chuck DeVore goes on the attack

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Is associating with the Rev. Jesse Jackson a forgivable offense for a GOP political candidate? Chuck DeVore seems to think not.

The campaign of the Irvine assemblyman, who is seeking the GOP nomination in this year’s U.S. Senate race, sent an e-mail to reporters with a link to audio of his rival, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, speaking fondly about Jackson at a reception this week. DeVore spokesman Josh Trevino called the comments ‘whoppers.’

‘I thought about something the Rev. Jesse Jackson said to me several years ago,’ Fiorina told the audience. ‘We were doing some work together for his Rainbow Coalition.’ She said she took it to heart when Jackson told her, ‘You know Carly, every game is better when everybody gets to play... Everything is better when all people, regardless of color or nationality or gender -- get to play. Sports are better, business is better, politics is better -- the world is better when everyone gets to play in the things that matter.’

Fiorina worked with Jackson on his efforts to bring ethnic and racial diversity to Silicon Valley, and participated in three conferences organized by Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. So, could that past association somehow affect her chances at securing the Republican Party’s U.S. Senate nomination?

“Carly stands firmly by her record of encouraging men and women from all walks of life to both achieve their fullest potential and get engaged in our democracy,’ said Fiorina spokeswoman Julie Soderlund. ‘It goes without saying that as a mainstream conservative, unlike Barbara Boxer, Carly Fiorina strongly disagrees with Jesse Jackson’s political agenda.’

Soderlund said the sentiment was one ‘we’d hope her opponents would seek to encourage rather than attack.’ She called DeVore a ‘career politician.’ Trevino shot back, ‘If five years of Assembly experience makes Chuck DeVore a career politician, I guess that officially makes Carly Fiorina a fired CEO.’ Looks like campaign season is finally here.

--Anthony York in Sacramento