CA-GOV: Poizner Dumps $15M Into Own Campaign

Republican Steve Poizner tried to revive his struggling campaign for the Republican gubernatorial nomination by injecting $15 million dollars into the faltering effort to succeed the Governator.

With his recent self-financing, State Insurance Commissioner Poizner has matched the $19 million his main rival former eBay CEO and fellow billionaire Meg Whitman has given to her quest to become Governor of California in her inaugural foray into electoral politics.

When Whitman poured $15 million into her campaign in July, Poizner spokesman Jarrod Agen criticized her, saying, "This election isn't an eBay auction, and you can't win by outbidding your opponent."

But Poizner has struggled to gain traction with six months to go before the June primary. He ranked third in the latest Field Poll with support from just 9 percent of likely voters, compared with 22 percent for Whitman and 20 percent for a third candidate, former South Bay Rep. Tom Campbell.

Poizner's cash infusion "will quiet whispers in political circles that he wasn't serious about the race," said Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California.

By all means, knock yourselves out trying to get the nomination, Meg, Steve and Tom! Jerry Brown will be tanned, rested and ready!