We all knew the national media would focus on the fact that California's U.S. Senate contenders are both women.
But their hairstyles as a big issue right out of the gate?
The cable TV gabfests and political bloggers have glommed on to Republican Carly Fiorina's gibe at Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer's hair being "soooo yesterday."
(The incident has been a staple on CNN and MSNBC. Here are some examples from the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast and FrumForum.)
Boxer's camp will be hard-pressed to respond, even if they so desired, because Fiorina's short hair stems from her battle with breast cancer last year.
And if they didn't remember, Fiorina managed to slide in a reminder, even as she gave her explanation for the hair remark, caught on camera while she was waiting for an appearance on a Sacramento TV station.
"Oh, you know, I was -- I was quoting a friend of mine," she said on Fox News Channel Wednesday night. "My goodness, my hair's been talked about by a million people, you know? It sort of goes with the territory.
"Especially when you don't have any. As you remember, I started out with none," Fiorina added helpfully.
It's petty politics at its stupidest. And it only feeds the perception that female politicians should be treated differently somehow.
There are lots of serious issues out there for Boxer and Fiorina to debate. They should get past hair-gate and start.
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