NOM Targets Gay Friendly Calif. Republican

The antigay National Organization for Marriage is turning up the heat on former congressman Tom Campbell, a Republican who supports marriage equality, as he seeks his party's nomination to challenge U.S. senator Barbara Boxer, the Democratic incumbent.

According to the Associated Press, "Former congressman Tom Campbell, a supporter of gay marriage, finds himself under attack and his previous front-runner status reduced to a statistical tie with former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina in one poll. Another poll taken about the same time showed Campbell clinging to a narrow lead.

"The National Organization for Marriage is spending $300,000 on television ads that liken Campbell to Boxer on taxes and gay marriage, calling them two peas in the same liberal pod."

While Campbell would likely mount a strong bid against Boxer in a general California election, his support for marriage equality could prove problematic with social conservatives in the Republican primary, the AP reports.