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Tom Campbell

A Major Announcement Jan 14th

by Tom Campbell // Comments
I write today first with a sincere word of thanks. Your encouragement for my candidacy for Governor in California has been personally, deeply rewarding.
I initially made the decision to run for Governor because I believe that my level of record of public service (especially on the state budget), and my willingness to present specific, pragmatic solutions to our most pressing problems would enable me to help chart a better course for our state.
Like you, I am motivated by a desire to serve our state and country. I’ve devoted my entire career to public service and to teaching, which I consider yet another form of public service.
Today, I remain firmly committed on that path with an announcement that I’ll be running for the U.S. Senate instead.
We face a fiscal crisis of epic proportions at the national as well as the state level.
Every day brings more evidence of the need for fiscal restraint in Washington, and the huge danger to our country from printing money. Truly, in my lifetime, I have never seen the growth of federal government spending more out of control. The consequences will be both inflation in the very near future, affecting us all, but retirees especially, and a tremendous burden on the next generation that will have to pay back what has been borrowed. The federal deficit has more than tripled in a single year. That’s suicidal for our country.
When I was in Congress, I was twice rated by the National Taxpayers’ Union Foundation as the SINGLE MOST FRUGAL Member of Congress, based on the bills I had introduced and co-sponsored to control spending. I have a Ph.D. in economics; Milton Friedman was my faculty advisor; I was the last budget director of California to serve while the budget balanced; my whole background, training, and career has pointed to the primacy of fiscal responsibility.
Many of you helped me in 1992, when I almost won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. I narrowly lost, and the Republican who won, went on to lose to now-Senator Barbara Boxer. She has been in the Senate for 18 years, after a race which many analysts say I would have won had I been her opponent. The economic times are now even more critical than then; and it is, thus, even more important now than it was then that Californians have a fiscally sound representative in the U.S. Senate.
Another consideration in my decision was that the dynamics of the race for Governor are such that I would have faced two billionaires. The path of public service and teaching is rewarding, but it does not afford one the ability to invest millions of dollars in a campaign for office.
Nonetheless, I am mindful of the help of so many friends for my campaign for Governor; deepest thanks for your own generosity. Contributions to my Governor’s campaign allowed me to create and maintain the most substantive, best reviewed political website in our state’s history and communicate with well over a million Californians directly. The experience gained in that effort is not lost.
In 1982, Pete Wilson was running for Governor. He switched to run for the US Senate instead, won that race (against Jerry Brown), was a superb US Senator, then, 8 years later, was elected our Governor. There is, indeed, precedent for being pragmatic in seeking public service. But the overwhelming factor should be one’s love of country and state, and deep commitment to making each better. Our country is at a very perilous point in economic terms, and in terms of the size and intrusiveness of government. I believe I can help to restore our nation’s economic health, and spirit of independence.
I wanted you – one of my earliest supporters — to know why I’ve chosen a different direction to do so.
I ask for your help in this new endeavor. With warmest thanks for all your help,
As always,
Tom
P.S. Tonight, I will host a telephone townhall meeting with supporters and voters to discuss the uncontrolled spending in Washington. Please join this meeting by registering here. I would love to speak with you and kick-off my campaign for Senate on the right foot write today first with a sincere word of thanks. Your encouragement for my candidacy for Governor in California has been personally, deeply rewarding.

I write today first with a sincere word of thanks. Your encouragement for my candidacy for Governor in California has been personally, deeply rewarding.

I initially made the decision to run for Governor because I believe that my level of record of public service (especially on the state budget), and my willingness to present specific, pragmatic solutions to our most pressing problems would enable me to help chart a better course for our state.

Like you, I am motivated by a desire to serve our state and country. I’ve devoted my entire career to public service and to teaching, which I consider yet another form of public service.

Today, I remain firmly committed on that path with an announcement that I’ll be running for the U.S. Senate instead.

We face a fiscal crisis of epic proportions at the national as well as the state level.

Every day brings more evidence of the need for fiscal restraint in Washington, and the huge danger to our country from printing money. Truly, in my lifetime, I have never seen the growth of federal government spending more out of control. The consequences will be both inflation in the very near future, affecting us all, but retirees especially, and a tremendous burden on the next generation that will have to pay back what has been borrowed. The federal deficit has more than tripled in a single year. That’s suicidal for our country.

When I was in Congress, I was twice rated by the National Taxpayers’ Union Foundation as the SINGLE MOST FRUGAL Member of Congress, based on the bills I had introduced and co-sponsored to control spending. I have a Ph.D. in economics; Milton Friedman was my faculty advisor; I was the last budget director of California to serve while the budget balanced; my whole background, training, and career has pointed to the primacy of fiscal responsibility.

Many of you helped me in 1992, when I almost won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. I narrowly lost, and the Republican who won, went on to lose to now-Senator Barbara Boxer. She has been in the Senate for 18 years, after a race which many analysts say I would have won had I been her opponent. The economic times are now even more critical than then; and it is, thus, even more important now than it was then that Californians have a fiscally sound representative in the U.S. Senate.

Another consideration in my decision was that the dynamics of the race for Governor are such that I would have faced two billionaires. The path of public service and teaching is rewarding, but it does not afford one the ability to invest millions of dollars in a campaign for office.

Nonetheless, I am mindful of the help of so many friends for my campaign for Governor; deepest thanks for your own generosity. Contributions to my Governor’s campaign allowed me to create and maintain the most substantive, best reviewed political website in our state’s history and communicate with well over a million Californians directly. The experience gained in that effort is not lost.

In 1982, Pete Wilson was running for Governor. He switched to run for the US Senate instead, won that race (against Jerry Brown), was a superb US Senator, then, 8 years later, was elected our Governor. There is, indeed, precedent for being pragmatic in seeking public service. But the overwhelming factor should be one’s love of country and state, and deep commitment to making each better. Our country is at a very perilous point in economic terms, and in terms of the size and intrusiveness of government. I believe I can help to restore our nation’s economic health, and spirit of independence.

I wanted you – one of my earliest supporters — to know why I’ve chosen a different direction to do so.

I ask for your help in this new endeavor. With warmest thanks for all your help,

As always,

Tom

P.S. Tonight, I will host a telephone townhall meeting with supporters and voters to discuss the uncontrolled spending in Washington. Please join this meeting by registering here. I would love to speak with you and kick-off my campaign for Senate on the right foot.

Contact Tom
  • Jill Brody
    Dear Tom,

    I am missing your phone conversation because I am attending a
    Republican Meeting at Sun City. I am spreading the word.
    Thanks for all the great ideas to discuss!
  • Greg
    Boxer is one of the reasons that Calif has become a "donor" state. We send far more to Washington than they send to us. Her fellow Dems in the senate don't even respect her. With Tom in the senate and Meg as Gov, Calif will again be taken seriously. It takes a very smart man to look ten plays ahead in the game and come up with a new plan that was better than the first.
  • PrideOf Cucamonga
    Tom, I am gravely disappointed by this decision. However, it is understandable considering that it is just another example of how money overrides ideas in our modern elections. I really felt that you would have made one hell of a governor and were the only person in the race of either major political party that would have the you-know-whats to truly solve some of California's many problems. I wish you well in your run for the US Senate even though I will now have to reevaluate whether or not I will support you in that race as that is a much different position. Frankly, at this point, I might not even be here to vote for you because I'm thinking that I just might rather move to a state with a more sensible government than continue to get ripped off and disappointed here in California.
  • HeyTru
    How can you ask people to contribute money to your campaign when WE don't know what you will vote for in the Senate or really what you want for us, the PEOPLE? Will you write down your views, possible votes, and give it to us, and promise with your signature that you will vote like you stated with a signature? If you can lay out your plans, I just might open a few dollars from the candy fund.
  • colinvgallagher
    Mr. Campbell during your remarks at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco yesterday, you had invited your audience to identify specific items of federal spending that are not absolutely necessary. I accept your challenge and ask you: Do we really need to spend billions of dollars each year on economic and military aid to Israel and Egypt? If we really are a debtor nation like Great Britain in the 1950's, then shouldn't we cut back on the substantial amounts of aid that we give to Israel and Egypt?
  • M. Report
    There is no political solution to California's economic problems;
    There is literally no way to get there from here in time, if at all.
    Running for Governor would thus be wasted effort; Running for
    Senator is a win-win: Get Boxer out of office, and gain a place
    at the table where the negotiations for the reform of Congress
    will happen; Discourage as many Tax-and-Spend Democrats
    as possible, sending them home to spend more time with
    their families. :)
  • stro
    Tom,

    I am deeply disappointed that you will be running for the U.S. Senate and not for Governor of California. You were just what California needed and you have abandoned this state to candidates who will continue to plunge California into the depths of dysfunctional governance. I would like to say that I will support your bid for the U.S. Senate, but currently, my interests regarding what is important for Calfornia are not the same as my interests regarding what is best for the Nation.
  • dyaeger
    Heard your telephone town hall meeting comments and read the announcement above. I understand the pragmatism (i.e. money begats probability) of the switch from governor to senator but am sorry for the change. As California governor, you'd have the clout to help our state as it cicles the drain. As a junior senator, your influence will be near negligable. Ridding California of Barbara Boxer will be a boon however and perhaps a sufficient near-term contribution for it's own sake. In my business we have a saying: "The smartest solution wins!" In this race, you're clearly the smartest solution. Good luck.
  • nealjking
    Tom, I supported your bid for Governor of California, but I can't support your bid for Senate.

    The last thing this country needs is Republican control of Congress.

    I'm sorry.
  • Dr. JoAnna Jones
    I was contacted by phone while the town hall was actually going on and stayed on until an incoming call cut me off. I heard enough to know that although anyone would be better than Barbara Boxer I believe that Tom Campbell really can be a man who can and will make a difference. He will have the votes of our entire family, which numbers 4 and we will strive to help him down here in Tinsel town as we can. The current government scares me to death and I see their contempt for our children as they pad their own pockets. Obviously those on this site are in agreement or they wouldn't be here, we now have to get those who are undecided to help us implement a change and get rid of the socialist who has brought this country to its knees and starting with Barbara Boxer is definitely a step in the right direction.
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