Dianne Feinstein's 2012 Opponent: 'Birther Queen'?

Birthers are making headlines again. First Donald Trump endorses Mitt Romney; now the so-called "Birther Queen" has a shot at being Dianne Feinstein's opponent in California's Senate race. Orly Taitz, who has made her case about President Obama's birthplace on national TV, could well be the runner-up to Feinstein after today's primary, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Taitz, who is running as a Republican, would have to beat out more than 20 others, but she's leading those challengers in a number of polls.

Leading Republicans haven't backed a candidate in the race because Feinstein is a lock to win re-election, but a Taitz win would still be seen as an embarrassment. Taitz says she's not running on her birther position; instead, she's focused on jobs, education, and water desalination plants. One fellow GOP candidate says Taitz's success would "hurt the ticket nationally." The state is using a new primary system in which candidates of both parties compete together. The top two finishers—in this case, Feinstein and No. 2—will square off in November. (More Orly Taitz stories.)