​Termed-out Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine), who is in the middle of a quixotic campaign to get the GOP nomination for the U.S. senate seat currently occupied by Democrat Barbara Boxer, boasts in an email to supporters and would-be supporters that he is now a million-dollar man.

"The headline on our website reads: "$1,000,000, DeVore for California hits Major Milestone," writes the no-tax-and-don't-spend conservative. "That's right, the critics are silenced."

Whoa there, boy. Silenced is a mighty strong term. More like "silent."

"As I reflected early this morning about the things I am thankful for, I was very mindful of the thousands of Americans who have stepped forward to support my campaign to defeat Barbara Boxer," DeVore continues. "I'm hoping to raise an additional $100,000 before the end of the year and that means I need to raise most of that in the next 10 days--before the Holiday season really kicks into gear. So I hope I can count on you right now for a contribution of $25 or even $50 or $100."

Every spare nickel will help, especially since his own party has this knack of getting behind the self-funded campaigns of multi-millionaires like DeVore's opponent for the GOP nomination, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.

Not that either Republican has made much of a dent when it comes to defeating Boxer, who led Fiorina 46 percent to 37 percent and DeVore 49 percent to 39 percent in recent statewide Rasmussen polling. Boxer actually picked up another percentage point on DeVore since October.

But Rasmussen considers any incumbent who polls less than 50 percent vulnerable, and 2010 is shaping up as a tough political year for Democrats. And at this point in the campaign (still very early), it's more telling how strongly voters feel about a candidate than actual head-to-head numbers.

For instance, the same polling showed 24 percent of voters share a very favorable opinion of Boxer, down three points from October, while 33 percent now view her very unfavorably, up five points from last month. Fiorina's breakdown is 8 percent very favorably and 9 percent very unfavorably, while DeVore is a mere 4 percent very favorably and 7 percent unfavorably. It's important to remember few know Fiorina yet, while DeVore probably couldn't get arrested in his own district.

Not that ol' Chuckie's worried. He says hitting the million-dollar milestone proves he can raise the necessary funds to send Boxer back to wherever they grow shrill little ladies. He'll beat her by hitting the streets, too, vows DeVore, who claims to have held more than 212 campaign events, met with more than 30,000 people and driven more than 20,000 miles across California.

"Barbara Boxer raises her campaign money from Hollywood liberals and fat cat lobbyists," writes DeVore. "I raise mine from regular Americans like you who give me small and medium-sized contributions one at a time. And that's how I win my campaigns, too--one voter at a time."