Boxer in Trouble in California

Fiorina would be a great improvement over Boxer....

Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer leads former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina in an early look at California’s 2010 race for the U.S. Senate.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that Boxer attracts 45% of the statewide vote while Fiorina, her best-known possible Republican challenger, earns 41%. Seven percent (7%) say they’d vote for some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.

In March, Boxer led Fiorina by nine, 47% to 38%.

Any incumbent who polls below 50% early in a campaign is considered potentially vulnerable. However, a Democrat running in a heavily Democratic state like California is often able to overcome weak poll numbers.

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Twenty-one percent (21%) of voters statewide have a Very Favorable opinion of Boxer. That’s down six points since March. Thirty-six percent (36%) have a very unfavorable view of the incumbent, who has been in the Senate since 1993.

Fiorina is far less well known. Just seven percent (7%) have a Very Favorable opinion of her, and 12% hold a Very Unfavorable view.

Only five percent (5%) of California voters rate the economy as good or excellent. Sixty-four percent (64%) say it’s in poor shape. Twenty-eight percent (28%) say things are getting better while 45% say they are getting worse. Nationwide, just 25% believe that the economic stimulus package passed earlier this year has helped the economy.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of California voters approve of the way President Obama is doing his job. Nationally, the president’s ratings have fallen a bit in recent weeks.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) approve of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's job performance. However, only five percent (5%) Strongly Approve.