February 4th, 2010
05:45 PM ET
13 years ago

DeVore campaign slams Fiorina camp's Web video

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/04/art.demonsheep0204.yt.jpg caption="A new Web video from the campaign of Carly Fiorina is drawing fire from rival Chuck DeVore."]
(CNN) – California's three-way Republican Senate primary is heating up after the Carly Fiorina's campaign released a controversial Web video targeting rival Tom Campbell.

In the video, Fiorina takes issue with Campbell's views on tax and budgetary issues during his tenure in public service. Campbell has previously served as a U.S. Congressman, a California state Senator, as California's Finance Director and as a member of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Council of Economic Advisors.

Entitled "FCINO," the online video seeks to portray Campbell as a "Fiscal Conservative In Name Only." In an effort to paint Campbell as a proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing when it comes to fiscal conservatism, the more than 3-minute video contains multiple images of real sheep. The Web video ends with images of a man crawling around on all fours in a sheep's costume that has red glowing eyes.

The video has been dubbed "demon sheep" by many political observers who have panned the video. In conjunction with the release of the video, the Fiorina campaign also rolled out www.fcino.com on Wednesday.

The campaign of Fiorina's other rival, Chuck DeVore, is wasting no time slamming the Fiorina camp for its latest online effort.


"We were stunned to be totally frank," Joshua Trevino, the communications director for the DeVore campaign, said of the "FCINO" video. The Fiorina campaign "seems intent on making Hollywood history rather than political history," Trevino also said Thursday.

Trevino also suggested that the "FCINO" video provides a troubling preview of what Fiorina might be like as a senator. But, Trevino quickly added, with Wednesday's release of the controversial video, "she is ensuring that will never happen."

Seeking to capitalize on the negative attention the Fiorina camp is receiving over the new Web video, the DeVore camp has already set up http://demonsheep.org, a spoof Web site for a non-existent group called "The Society for the Eradication of Demon Sheep from our Political Discourse."

Twitter has also been buzzing with chatter about the new Fiorina video since its release Wednesday. The Twitter hashtag "#demonsheep" is currently a trending topic for Washington, D.C.-based tweets, according to the site. And a Twitter account called @demonsheep has been set up and currently has roughly 800 followers.

The @demonsheep Twitter account is not affiliated with the DeVore campaign, according to Trevino.

The Campbell campaign has not responded to CNN's request for comment on the new Fiorina Web video.

Related: Fiorina's new Web site bashed by Democrats, Republicans


Filed under: 2010 • California • Carly Fiorina • Chuck DeVore • Popular Posts • Tom Campbell
soundoff (89 Responses)
  1. Wolfen

    I wonder if the red glowing eyes were intended to bring up Arnold – very Terminator like. Cause most CA Repubs hate Arnold because he wasn't fiscally conservative enough, while also being socially liberal.
    Reminds me of that old SNL skit – Bad Masterpiece Theatre. Or something like that. Too many folks have drank the Kool-Aid at the Fiorina camp, and no one had the cajones to suggest that this attack was really dumb.

    February 4, 2010 05:33 pm at 5:33 pm |
  2. normajean

    As a native Californian this trash means nothing to me because I wouldn't vote for a Repub. for dog catcher. The Democrat has my vote no matter who it is.In fact I personally will never again vote for the party that won't help anyone. the party that fights every attempt to change from the last eight years of destruction."The Party Of NO" will never get another vote from me. {I know many others who say the same}

    February 4, 2010 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |
  3. Franky, Land of Lincoln

    That is the most hilarious thing happening in California since the Governator became Gov. That is so wrong...but yet, quite humurous, LOL!! 🙂

    Boy, they sure got some creativity and a heck of an imaginative thinking process...and by the way, I haven't looked at the video but I promise you based on how is said, it ain't gonna get you nowhere. Poor California, that state is messed up!

    Having a mistake in competence can ruin your image, is really dangerous, or a misinterpretation. Just tell Hollywood.

    February 4, 2010 05:35 pm at 5:35 pm |
  4. ROFL

    That ad is ridiculous...second only to the "Carlyfornia Dreamin" LOL

    February 4, 2010 05:36 pm at 5:36 pm |
  5. Rayshawn Ordway

    It's completely tragic that Carly Fiorina is using "FEAR" to win elections instead of talking about real down to earth issues that everyday Americans are going thru this kind of ignorance is exactly why Democrats are in control of the House, Senate, Congress, and the White House plain and simple.

    February 4, 2010 05:39 pm at 5:39 pm |
  6. Gary of El Centro, Ca

    It's fun watching Republicans eat their own isn't it? They have become experts over the years in running attack ads........it's great sport when they crank them out against each other.

    February 4, 2010 05:41 pm at 5:41 pm |
  7. harold

    Should the people of the USA really Trust the Replubicans to reduce the debt... They just increased the USA debt all 8 years of their rule 2000-2008.. The last time the Republicans balanced the USA budget was 1930 during of all times the Great Depression... then the people of the USA were standing in soup lines.. They just served them soup... can you imagine and they want to do it again...

    February 4, 2010 05:43 pm at 5:43 pm |
  8. Republicans - Wrong about everything, Wrong for America (and GW Bush was the worst President ever)

    This is actually funny stuff. I also find it a little refreshing that Campbell has not responding. Maybe he is actually concentrating on the important stuff, which will help him with the voters.

    February 4, 2010 05:43 pm at 5:43 pm |
  9. Minnesotan

    I love watching the conservatives stab each other in the back. It's only fair, since they've been stabbing us all in the back for years.

    February 4, 2010 05:43 pm at 5:43 pm |
  10. Neil

    Carly Fiorina is the real demon in this campaign. She has
    destroyed or nearly destroyed every company with which she
    has been associated.... always making sure she gets to bail
    out with a golden parachute. The fact that she was one of
    John McCain's economic advisers during the last Presidential
    election campaign scared me to no end.

    Hell is doing a booming export business these days.

    February 4, 2010 05:44 pm at 5:44 pm |
  11. Garland

    As usual, the Republican prove the will do anything to win! Sick ad. I hope she looses.

    February 4, 2010 05:47 pm at 5:47 pm |
  12. Grant

    "Vote Fiorina! Because REAL Republicans are sheep!"

    Quick, someone start turning out the bumper stickers.

    February 4, 2010 05:52 pm at 5:52 pm |
  13. EC

    WHAT the hell was Fiorina thinking? This Ad was BEYOND STUPID.

    WHO puts out an Ad with FAKE sheeps with red eyes? LMAO

    With all the modern graphic technology, THIS is what Fiorina came up with?

    This just solidifies why HP fired her butt. The woman is a complete idiot.

    February 4, 2010 05:52 pm at 5:52 pm |
  14. C. Farrell, Houston, Tx

    Carly is reducing herself to looking more and more stupid like Palin.

    February 4, 2010 05:53 pm at 5:53 pm |
  15. John

    Carly Fiorina...

    Wasn't she in charge of of Hewlett Packard while its debt increased and its sales declined?

    Curious. Republicans are always claiming government should be run more like a business.

    I'm just sayin.....

    February 4, 2010 05:56 pm at 5:56 pm |
  16. Common Sense

    I am not surprised by Fiorina's tactics. She drove HP into the ground and she along with this other CEO who is running for Governor on the GOP are good at unemploying US citizens. Along with Gov Arnold, the GOP has put California's finances in the toilet!

    February 4, 2010 05:58 pm at 5:58 pm |
  17. ej in Tacoma

    I had a good laugh watching this add!
    ej in tacoma

    February 4, 2010 05:59 pm at 5:59 pm |
  18. Albo58

    Might I remind the Dimwits that Barbara Boxer is the incumbent in this particular senatorial race so just about anyone from either party that can tie their own shoes and chew bubblegum at the same time would be an improvement! Boxer is a cancer on our government and she needs to be voted out NOW!

    February 4, 2010 06:01 pm at 6:01 pm |
  19. Shelly

    GOP get more and more stupid every day!

    February 4, 2010 06:02 pm at 6:02 pm |
  20. Big Jim

    This is why I hate politics. The worst get even worse.

    February 4, 2010 06:04 pm at 6:04 pm |
  21. Franky, Land of Lincoln

    LOL!!! I'm sorry but that pic is just funny.

    You californians sure have a heck of a mind and a creative one too...maybe it explains much of your debt, abortion rate, teen pregnancy, welfare rate, etc. Call me bogus but maybe, just maybe that 6.0 earthquake wasn't a mistake...

    I know that's mean but oh well, is a hrd world out there. But that is funny.

    February 4, 2010 06:08 pm at 6:08 pm |
  22. Brian

    Dumbest video I've ever seen, and too long. Didn't even finish. Waste of time and brain cells.

    February 4, 2010 06:10 pm at 6:10 pm |
  23. SuperHiro

    That video was HILARIOUS. Totally ineffective, but hilarious.

    February 4, 2010 06:17 pm at 6:17 pm |
  24. Edwin

    What I think is more interesting than the demon sheep (although that is amazing) is that her ad portrays SHEEP.

    So... good politicians are supposed to be sheep? Just follow the masses, take no initiative of their own?

    I thought the senator of a state was supposed to lead, not follow.

    February 4, 2010 06:18 pm at 6:18 pm |
  25. Edwin

    I just watched the ad, and I think it is amazing that someone with as much money as she has would consent to make an ad that looks as amateur-ish as this one does.

    The flash scenes of pigs and sheep are creepy. Yes, I understand the reference to pork, but the announcer never says anything about that. In fact, the announcer basically says the same thing over and over, leaving me to wonder if he really has any idea what he's saying.

    But the best part is the man in the stupid demon sheep costume. What idiot thought that up? Come on, in an age with CGI the best you can do is put a man in a poorly designed costume?

    I don't see how her campaign can really recover from this stupidity. It is getting a lot of attention, but I don't think people are laughing WITH her, if you get my drift.

    February 4, 2010 06:23 pm at 6:23 pm |
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