Research Briefing

Even In Supposedly Safe Democratic Territory Of California, Obama Must Work To Save Surprisingly Struggling Sen. Barbara Boxer

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “I Know It’s An Election Year.  …[I]t’s Clear That Campaign Fever Has Come Even Earlier Than Usual.  But We Still Need To Govern.” (President Barack Obama, State Of The Union Address, Washington, DC, 1/27/10)

OBAMA BRINGS THE FEVER TO LOS ANGELES TODAY,

WHERE HE’LL RAISE SOME CAMPAIGN CASH FOR SEN. BOXER

Obama Will Headline Fundraiser For Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) On Monday. “A White House official says President Barack Obama will go to Los Angeles on April 19 to raise money for Sen. Barbara Boxer. The president's intentions to head to California had been known for weeks, but not the date. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the trip next Monday has not been announced.” (Julie Pace, “Obama To Raise Money For Boxer In Calif. On Monday,” The Associated Press, 4/12/10)

• “Boxer hopes to persuade first-time voters who turned out for Obama in 2008 to come back to the polls again.” (Julie Pace, “Obama To Raise Money For Boxer In Calif. On Monday,” The Associated Press, 4/12/10)

BUT BOXER’S IN TROUBLE IN WHAT SHOULD BE A SAFE DEMOCRATIC SEAT …

According To SurveyUSA Poll, Boxer’s Approval Rating Is Now Just 40 Percent, While Her Disapproval Rating Is 50 Percent. (SurveyUSA Poll, 600 A, MoE +/- 4.1%, 3/12-14/10)

• That’s An 8 Point Drop In Approval, And A 10 Point Increase In Disapproval Since The Health Care Debate Began Last March. (SurveyUSA Poll, 600 A, MoE +/- 4.1%, 3/12-14/10)

But President Obama Carried California By 24 Points. (“Election Center 2008,” CNN.com, 1/12/09)

• And Sen. Boxer Won Her Last Re-Election Campaign In 2004 By 20 Points. (“Election Center 2004,” CNN.com, Accessed: 3/16/10)

…. BECAUSE OBAMA, DEMS HAVEN’T FOCUSED ON CREATING

THE JOBS CALIFORNIA DESPERATELY NEEDS

Since January 2009, California Has Shed Over 646,000 Jobs. (Bureu Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed: 4/16/10)

• California’s Unemployment Rate Is Now 12.6%, Among The Highest In The Nation. (Bureu Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed: 4/16/10)

67 Percent Of Californians Believe The State’s Economy Is Not Getting Any Better Or May Even Be Getting Worse. (USC/Los Angeles Times, 1515 RVs, MoE +/- 2.6, 3/23-30/10)