Every six years the Republicans make noises about unseating Barbara Boxer, and each time they get nowhere. Well, as the latest Field Poll (which, as Kos likes to remind us, is never wrong)
shows, things look suspiciously familiar for 2004. (Full poll
here [pdf].) Boxer now has a 23 point lead on her Republican opponent Bill Jones among both likely and all registered voters (55 to 32 and 54 to 31 respectively), well up from a 10 point lead in February.
The major caveat is that it is still very early, of course, and 2/3 of voters hold no firm opinion of Jones. Still, the numbers are good all over for Boxer. There is an immense gender gap -- women favor her 2 to 1, she has large leads among Latinos and other minority groups, and she is doing well not only in traditional Dem strongholds (67-19 in the Bay Area, 63-24 in LA County), but even in the Central Valley (50-39). Her favorables-unfavorables are solid: an impressive 59 to 22 among non-partisans/others (i.e. independents and members of other parties).
Things are looking good for BB.