Eye on 2010

It's no secret that many Republicans in Washington think Fiorina, who has name recognition, the capacity to self-fund and more centrist political tendencies, is a more promising general election candidate. But she has not performed any better against third-term Democrat Boxer than DeVore in recent polls -- and unseating a Democratic incumbent in a state like California is no easy task, no matter who the GOP's nominee is.

That does not, however, mean the NRSC has endorsed Fiorina, which Walsh reiterated in his reply e-mail to Trevino, also forwarded to reporters, as well as in comments to CQ Politics.

In a statement, Walsh noted, "The NRSC routinely meet with potential candidates around the country, oftentimes multiple folks in various states. We believe Barbara Boxer is way out of step with mainstream America and her poll numbers make clear she is vulnerable. If there are qualified candidates who want to challenge her that is a good thing."

But the distinction between endorsing and recruiting -- one involves formally linking the party name to the candidate and lending material support, the other seeking out and encouraging candidates to run -- bears less of a distinction out in the states than it does in Washington, D.C. And the party has generated a backlash among local activists in states like Florida and New Hampshire, as well as California, with the perception that it is meddling in primaries to the benefit of more moderate, but potentially more electable, candidates.

The NRSC, however, says it is happy to sit down with viable candidates across the spectrum. For example, it has met twice with Marco Rubio, a conservative candidate taking on Gov. Charlie Crist in the Republican primary for Florida Senate.

The NRSC has not met with DeVore, though there are differing accounts as to why that is. Trevino cited an attempt by the campaign to reach out to the NRSC in August, in which the campaign e-mailed the committee about a call it was hosting with GOP online activists to discuss Pat Toomey's Senate candidacy in Pennsylvania. The DeVore campaign asked the NRSC about setting up a similar call in California, but in his words, "they demurred."

"Since then, it has become crystal clear that the NRSC is 100 percent behind Fiorina's candidacy, raising the question of whether there is pragmatic utility in further outreach to them. If and when the NRSC wants to work with us, we await them with open arms," Trevino told CQ Politics in an e-mail.

DeVore, meanwhile, told CNN on Wednesday that "he has not made any effort to meet with national Republican officials because he knows who the NRSC is supporting, and doesn't want to provide them with 'valuable intelligence that they would simply pass on to Carly Fiorina.'"

The growing distrust between campaign and committee raises questions about what their relationship would be like should DeVore win the GOP nomination. Trevino, however, says he doesn't expect it to be an issue. Asked if the DeVore campaign would seek out NRSC support for a race against Boxer, he replied, "We shouldn't have to."

"The NRSC's sole mission is to aid Republicans seeking election to that august body. We have full confidence that the NRSC will do its job, and keep faith with its donors, in rendering full and effective support to Chuck DeVore once he wins the nomination."

CQ Politics currently rates the general election contest Safe Democratic, but the nature of the Republican primary could impact that rating going forward.

To see how the 2010 Senate races are shaping up, check out the CQ Politics' election map.