National Organization for Marriage Shifts California Election Focus from Important Issues to Gay Marriage

As the June primary draws closer, the Republican race to determine who will challenge Sen. Barbara Boxer in the fall should be focused on the larger issues- jobs, economy and spending. 

However, that is quickly changing as The National Organization for Marriage is trying to shift the focus back to social issues like gay marriage. 

According to the Associated Press, the group is reportedly spending close to $300,000 on television ads that liken GOP candidate Tom Campbell to Boxer on taxes and gay marriage, calling them "two peas in the same liberal pod."

Campbell's previous front-runner status has been reduced to a statistical tie with former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. In another poll, taken around the same time, Campbell holds the lead only by a narrow margin.

Republicans, traditionally hard-liners on gay marriage and abortion, typically perform well in California GOP primaries but falter in general elections.  GOP supporters only account for less than a third of the electorate.

A recent poll from the Public Policy Institute of California found that 67 percent of Republicans disagree with Campbell regarding same sex marriage. However, that same poll found that, for the first time, more Californians support gay marriage than oppose it.

The Public Policy Institute of California poll released in late March showed Campbell and Fiorina in virtual ties with Boxer in hypothetical general election matchups. Fiorina has said she believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.

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