By Emily Cadei CQ-Roll Call
Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California has been the subject of any number of unflattering portrayals by Republican detractors over the past few months: a talkative blimp an obnoxious left-wing ideologue" and bitterly partisan" to name a few.
The barrage of criticism which took on a new level of intensity with the state Republicans convention the weekend of March 12 appears to be taking its toll on the three-term senator.
To reflect polling showing a tightening general election race and California voters particularly sour mood about the direction of their state and the country CQ Politics is changing its race rating from Likely Democratic to the increasingly competitive Leans Democratic.
Two polls conducted in March showed Boxers lead over two potential Republican challengers narrowing to a virtual tie. One of those two surveys the Field Poll had Boxer leading by double digits as recently as January.
And while the three Republican candidates for the GOP nomination former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina former Rep. Tom Campbell and state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore have benefited from plenty of earned media thanks to their testy primary battle Boxers drop in the polls came before any of them were on the air with campaign ads.
All three Republicans went up with television and/or radio buys this past week as they gear up for the final two months of the primary campaign. That election is June 8.
Boxers campaign is playing up the threat to rally its Democratic base but few observers dispute campaign manager Rose Kapolczynskis claim made in a recent e-mail to supporters that 2010 is clearly going to be the toughest campaign ever for Barbara Boxer ."
Boxer however is not to be underestimated. A tireless campaigner and fundraiser she has an avid base of support and plenty of cash. And California remains a deep blue state; President Obamas approval rating was at 58 percent in a Los Angeles Times/University of Southern California poll of registered voters conducted March 23-30 well above the national average.
It remains unclear moreover what sort of resources national Republicans and independent groups will bring to bear on the race a major factor in a state as big and expensive media-wise as California.
Fiorina has the financial edge in the GOP field largely thanks to her own self-funding capability. Campbell has been working hard to prove he has the fundraising chops to compete in a general election as well but hell have to step up his pace to meet his campaigns $5 million to $7 million goal for the primary.
The pair are neck-and-neck in a tight race for the partys nomination according to recent primary polling with DeVore trailing but hoping to pull an upset with the help of fired-up grass-roots conservatives.
For a look at the 2010 Senate races check out CQ Politics election map.
