All I can say

is that with all of the NRSC and GOP gubernatorial recruiting successes this cycle, it's nice to see one state where the GOP is flailing across the board and, in the case of this race, our incumbent is actually getting safer.

Also, Boxer always shows better than she polls. I remember this time in 2004 her approvals were about the same as now, yet she still ended up pasting her GOP opponent by 20 points come election day. She'll do the same to DeVore once he wins the primary.

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by: notanothersonofabush @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 01:15:38 AM UTC

Boxer stings like a bee

Boxer isn't greatly loved by the California masses, but she is appreciated by many, and she is a ferocious campaigner. Any Republican thinking that she will be an easy target is sadly mistaken.

Boxer coasted to victory in 2004, defeating Bill Jones by twenty points. Jones was a decent public servant but underfunded and hapless. Boxer never raised a sweat.

The more interesting races were the first two. In 1992, she came from behind to edge arch-conservative Bruce Hirschensohn after he was revealed to have an addiction to porn, which undermined his carefully manufactured image of moral rectitude.

Boxer's reelection in 1998 was one of the greatest races I've ever observed. It proved that her first victory was no fluke. Three weeks before the election, Boxer's job approval was low, and she was behind Matt Fong by 5 points, just as she had been three weeks before that. Fong was inoffensive and careful. Boxer seemed on the ropes.  Republicans exultantly asked, "Is Boxer down for the count?" Then, with exquisite timing, after having been virtually silent on TV, she released a flood of merciless TV ads, just when Matt Fong had exhausted his own resources. Boxer turned the election around, winning 53% to 43%. The San Francisco Chronicle opined that Fong turned out to have had a "glass jaw."

I predict that Boxer will flatten her Republican opponent in 2010, whoever it turns out to be.

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by: stevenaxelrod @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 02:29:35 AM UTC

Actually

I hope Republicans continue to think Boxer is a target. That way they divert their money to ultra-expensive California, leaving less for Ohio, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, etc.

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by: californianintexas @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 03:02:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Boxer is a fierce campaigner

when Fong had his mother come on television to try and shame Boxer for her ads, it was all over for Fong. March Fong Eu was a great Sec. of State and Democrat but nobody wants to see someone's mother fight her son's fight. Boxer will be tough to be again.  

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by: gomer @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 17:52:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes, this was a high point of the campaign for me

Thanks for reminding us of this. I've never seen a candidate ask his mother to defend him against the big, bad opponent, but Fong did so.

California is a big whale to flip, but during this final three week period, Boxer (with a big assist from Fong and his mom) went from a five point deficit to a ten point advantage. Good times.

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by: stevenaxelrod @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 23:46:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I like to comment on CA races...

But this race will easily be won by Boxer.  Did anyone really have any doubt about it?

20, Male, Democrat, CA-44 (home) CA-12 (college)

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by: daman09 @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 02:50:50 AM UTC

I never did.

Not even before Ahnuld bowed out.

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by: californianintexas @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 03:01:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's good to see.

She's one of my favorite Senators.  

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by: andgarden @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 03:04:13 AM UTC

Mine too!

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by: californianintexas @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 03:11:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Boxer's

my senator. And I'll be proud to vote for her in November 2010 as well.

19, Male, Independent, CA-12

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by: ehstronghold @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 05:39:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I wish I could!

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by: californianintexas @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 06:08:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sans a huge gaffe, Boxer's easily winning

That said, Carly Fiorina would at least turn CA-Sen into one of the more high-profile midterm match-ups; certainly not one of the more competitive, but the debates and ads would hardly be a snooze.  

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by: andyroo312 @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 03:04:16 AM UTC

The problem in CA for Repubs

Is it doesn't matter in percentage terms how close they might look because in reality that equates to millions of voters minds they have to change. No chance.

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by: conspiracy @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 17:14:24 PM UTC

Like when Feinstein won

re-election to a full term in 1994 by less than 2% but the margin of victory was over 162,127 votes.

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by: jmartin4s @ Mon Oct 12, 2009 at 02:37:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]