In California, Republican assemblyman Chuck DeVore is actively campaigning against Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, but it’s clear that in Washington, GOP leaders think there’s a better candidate for 2010.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn on Wednesday was talking up another California prospect: former Hewlett Packard executive Carly Fiorina,.

“Who would have imagined even before she announces her candidacy that she’d be within 4 points in a Rasmussen Poll against Barbara Boxer,” Cornyn said.

The poll he referred to was from July.