Boxer rallies union faithful in San Jose

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer began the final weekend of her campaign rallying hundreds of union organizers in San Jose, telling them that the only way to combat the millions she expects her Republican opponent -- wealthy former Hewlett Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina -- to spend on TV ads in the coming days is to make sure the majority Democrats make it to the polls in large numbers.

‘This election is going to be won or lost depending on who votes,’ she implored the crowd, most of whom were set to start canvassing neighborhoods as soon as the rally ended. Boxer, 69, told the crowd she expected the ads to become increasingly unflattering as Fiorina -- who is trailing in the polls -- takes out all the stops.

‘They’re using the ugliest pictures of me you can imagine,’ Boxer joked, noting that the photos make her look old and tired. ‘I say to my husband, ‘At least the people will know I take their problems seriously.’’

Speaking on Boxer’s behalf was Jason K. Burnett, grandson of Hewlett Packard co-founder David Packard. The young Carmel resident with a pedigree got a cool reception at first, but the labor crowd warmed when he told them his grandfather would never have done what Fiorina did at HP -- ‘she laid off thousands and shipped their jobs overseas.’

Deploying what is certain to be the trope of the weekend, especially at political rallies in Northern California, Boxer managed to equate her opponent’s support for Proposition 23, which would put environmental laws on hold and is supported by Texas oil companies, with a traitorous stand on the outcome of the World Series.

‘We’re on track to beat the Texas Rangers,’ Boxer shouted, ‘and we’re on track to beat the big Texas polluters who back my opponent.’

Boxer flies to Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon, where she said will attend a rally with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown on Sunday morning.

--Jack Dolan in San Jose