Would someone mind telling me why Sen. Barbara Boxer...

[kjackson227]

is in a dead heat with her Dem and Republican challengers? I've always liked her on guest spots, and can't understand why the races are so close.

[MineralMan]

1. She's getting close to outliving her time in office.

I'm afraid that she's no longer interesting to Californians, who are looking for ways to change their representation. California can be fickle.

[kjackson227]

3. Oh, that's too bad. Were her policies not helping CA at all?

[MineralMan]

6. Well, that's really not the issue for many Californians.

They're on board with the whole "dump the incumbents" frenzy, and Barbara Boxer isn't as active a Senator as she once was, so she's a target for replacement.

Short-term thinking is a California trait. I lived there for 56 years. It happens.

[kjackson227]

9. Man, I sure would hate to see that Fiorino(sp) get elected, but...

I guess CA knows what's best for CA.

[MineralMan]

12. Actually, CA has no idea what's best for CA.

That's not how it works. It's more of a "Look at this shiny thing" sort of deal.

[eppur_se_muova]

23. Thanks for your candor. ;^)

;)

[wryter2000]

18. I've lived in California for over 40 years

"How California voters think" is a contradiction in terms.

[Ignis]

22. Yes, trying to lump SF and OC into one basket is silly in the extreme. (nt)

[Cal33]

8. But she doesn't look that old! How long has she been senator?

[MineralMan]

13. She's about 70 years old and was first elected in 1992.

[kjackson227]

14. You have got to be kidding me. 70 years old???? She doesn't look a day over 50.

[MineralMan]

17. She was born in 1940.

[havocmom]

2. Because there is widespread discontent with incumbants?

People, even a lot of normally inattentive people, are becoming aware that things are not working as they should. People are angry. Sadly, they think changing names at desks in D.C. would make a difference.

We changed a LOT in D.C. past couple of elections. Seems not to have had any effect on the agenda.

[derby378]

4. Got a link to the polls? (n/t)

[kjackson227]

7. No link. They just mentioned it on MSNBC. David Shuster reported, but I can't remember...

the exact polling numbers between she and her Dem challenger, but it was within a few points. She's within one point of her Republican challenger including that Carly Fiorina fraud.

[joeybee12]

5. I don't know, maybe when she decided to vote for Nelson's b-slap to women amendment

and her "pro-choice" credentials were seen for what they were - something to include in fund-raising letters.

[WhiteTara]

10. Barbara Boxer is one of the most liberal

senators in congress. Her women's health rights are impeccable and she is being challenged because she works very hard for her constituency. Why would you say such a nasty thing without back up of links, etc?

[joeybee12]

15. Tell me what she has helped pass that protects women's reproductive rights?

Make a list, I dares ya.

She came out and said Nelson's amendment was fine with her.

Impeccable, my ass.

[karynnj]

11. That is silly - you can see by the effort to get all of the Stupak people they can - because they

need some to get to 216, that it was a VERY careful balancing act. They needed to be able to say that it was clear cut that it did not change the Hyde amendment. The compromise was they made provisions that, by adding a separate check, women could pay for insurance that covered it.

It might be that in the general election polls, there are people withholding their "votes" because of this, but it would seem they might return when faced with the reality of their choice.

This is a tough year for all incumbents. I wonder though if the positive, happy passing of healthcare will have the affect of reviving Democrats - as big victories often do. (Have you noticed that winners look more energetic and seem better, more focused, more optimistic than the losers - think of the primaries.)

[joeybee12]

16. Once more, put the burden is on women...

...making it more difficult to get healthcare for their rights. I call your BS and hers.

[karynnj]

20. One quesrion for you - Could the bill pass with the language you want?

My contention is the answer is no - it would fail in the House. There are several yeses we have who agreed because they agree that the Senate language does not allow federal funding of abortion.

"Put the burden on women" - give me a break! All they have to do is write a separate monthly check for it. When you weigh EVERYTHING the bill will do vs what really is comparably small "burden", I really don't think she made the wrong decision.

[Jennicut]

24. You will get much worse with Campbell and Fiorina.

But apparently, Boxer is so so terrible. Sometimes the purity tests kill me.

[Johonny]

19. Probably has to do with the 24/7 Republican commercials

right now. The polls this far out generally reflect name recognition and dissatisfaction with all incumbents due to the economy. She was generally seen as the weaker of the two Senators by the GOP and the one they feel most likely to beat. Frankly I think her election and Brown are closely tied together. Frankly if I was Democratic campaign manager my dream would be for the GOP to run two former CEOs during a time when the word CEO is the only thing that draws a worse image in American minds than the word Congress.

[anigbrowl]

21. She hasn't put much energy in her re-election campaign yet

Also, she's well-liked enough that no democrats are mounting a primary challenge, whereas the Republicans are still fighting over who will get to run against her. Do right now the GOP primary is attracting a fair degree of media coverage and the candidates are of greater interest to the public than the incumbent.

It's like asking why the second semi-final in a sports tournament is attracting more coverage than the winner of the first semi-final. fans of both teams in the second semi-final are convinced they will prevail in the final competition, and the other finalist doesn't yet know who they'll be playing against so they can't plan their strategy until the other semi takes place. You'll see the same pattern among both the media and oddsmakers in the basketball championships later this month. Don't attach too much significance to this poll.

I like Barbara Boxer too, and think she'll probably win. I expect her to be running against Carly Fiorina in November.