Posted on 09/01/2010 8:31:03 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
At this point in a re-election race, secure Democratic senators in Democratic-leaning states generally poll at a comfortable 55 percent or better in the matchup against a Republican opponent (Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland are examples).
But that’s not the case in California, where three-term Sen. Barbara Boxer will square off against GOP challenger Carly Fiorina in the pair's first debate Wednesday night. An average of the five most recent public polls shows Boxer getting 45 percent to Fiorina’s 41 percent. About 12 percent of respondents remain undecided.
President Barack Obama has trekked to California twice in recent months to help raise funds for Boxer, and Vice President Joe Biden held a fundraiser for her in July.
“I don't travel for just anybody,” Obama told attendees at a San Francisco fundraiser in May. “But when it comes to Barbara Boxer, I'm a lot like many of you, which is, if she calls and she says, ‘I need some help,’ then we're going to give her some help...”
While not as astonishing as Republican Sen. Scott Brown’s upset win last January in Massachusetts, a Fiorina victory would be dramatic. California hasn't elected a Republican senator since 1988. That was also the last time a Republican presidential candidate carried California.
Democrats enjoy an edge in party registration, with about 7.5 million Democrats to 5.2 million Republicans in the state; there are 3.4 million registered independents.
Boxer won her seat in 1992, lifted on the wave led by Bill Clinton in what was then dubbed “the Year of the Woman.” She beat conservative Los Angeles television and radio pundit Bruce Herschensohn by about half a million votes, or 5 percentage points.
(Excerpt) Read more at firstread.msnbc.msn.com ...
Whoops! SF Gate.
Perhaps the other 2pc are decided on another candidate, a write-in candidate, or ‘none of the above’.
Yes, after reading the comments about what a RINO Whatsername is, I realized that the 12% Undecideds might have a hard time coming to a decision—but—on the other hand—what’s there to decide when it comes to kicking Barbara Boxer out of office?
I can’t wait to be able to call BOXER’s office and tell her to clean out her desk because she’s been fired. I did that to Tommy “DaShill” Daschle when his indian reservation campfire balot burning buddies failed the second time around and John Thune beat his butt.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.