California's Campbell.

Some fiscal conservatives in California have had encouraging words about former Rep. Tom Campbell, who in early July was the first to file papers to run for governor in the Republican primary. Campbell's most recent stint in politics was in 2004-05, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him state finance director. He last ran for political office in 2000, when Sen. Dianne Feinstein defeated him in winning re-election to her Senate seat.

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Campbell's decision is interesting, in part, because of the presence of former eBay CEO and McCain national co-chair Meg Whitman, who, while not officially in the race, has built up a formidable set of campaign consultants, many of them with roots in the 2008 McCain and Romney campaigns.

But in a state where fiscal conservatism and social moderation are often the keys to victory, Campbell is not being ruled out, particularly given his roots as a one-time student of Milton Friedman and his statewide name recognition.