OAKLAND, Calif. -- There is a surprising new development among Republicans hoping to challenge Senator Barbara Boxer in next year's election.

A new KTVU Field Poll shows a little known Southern California conservative has nearly pulled even with Carly Fiorina, the former chief executive of Hewlett Packard.

But Republicans hoping to challenge Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer in next year's senate race have a problem. Few people know much about them.

Senate candidate Chuck Devore is a conservative state assemblyman from Orange County.

Carly Fiorina has a campaign Web site, "Carly-Fornia Dreaming," but she hasn't officially entered the race.

Molly Weinstein-Gould of San Francisco said she's never heard of Chuck Devore.

Ellen Weaver of Palo Also said the name rang a bell but she knew nothing about him. She said she's never heard of Carly Fiorina.

"She didn't go to the Republican State Convention a couple of weeks ago," said Republican consultant Bill Whalen. "So there is a great question inside Republican circles is she really running for the Senate or not."

One reason for the uncertainty lies in Fiorina's current battle against breast cancer. In the last KTVU Field Poll in March, she had a 12 point lead over Devore. But the new KTVU Field Poll shows the two in a virtual tie. In fact, the real winner is "undecided" at 59 percent.

"Well, with two candidates who are unknown, that is I guess to be expected," observed the Field Poll's Mark Dicamillo.

There remains one candidate who does have the name recognition to compete with Boxer.

"The question is, could Arnold Schwarzenegger jump in at the last second?" asked Whalen. "He is about the only Republican sitting out there who you would call a game changer. Someone who could come in at the last second and completely throw the race into tumult."

But Whalen said few people expect that to happen.

So far, no serious Democratic threat has emerged to challenge Senator Boxer in her own party. First elected in 1992, Boxer is one of the nation's most liberal senators.

She is also disliked by the vast majority of Republicans. Still Senator Boxer easily won reelection in 1998 and again in 2004. But what gives some Republicans hope this time is that Boxer has never faced a female opponent in the general election.

Fiorina is believed to be a moderate which would be helpful in California. She also would have gender and money going for her. She is wealthy enough to finance her own campaign.

That's why Democrats hope Republicans nominate Chuck Devore.

"He is pro-life. He will be anti-same sex marriage," said Whalen about Devore. "He is a very conservative candidate, and those candidates historically have a very hard time winning statewide office."

As of right now, Boxer would have no trouble with either Republican.

"It is tough to knock off an incumbent senator," said Dicamillo.

The KTVU Field Poll shows Boxer with a 14-point lead over Fiorina and 17-point advantage over Devore.