Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is in the driver’s seat in her bid for reelection this year, a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California shows. The PPIC survey of 1,104 likely voters is one of the state’s most respected polls and it shows Boxer leading Republican nominee Carly Fiorina 42-35.
In PPIC’s last survey of the race, taken in July, Boxer led 39-34. The new result matches other recent polls showing Boxer ahead. The TPM Poll Average shows the Democrat leading 47.4-43.4.
PPIC reports that Boxer appears to be gaining voters even as she loses some public confidence. “Across parties, her approval rating has dropped since May among Democrats (67% today, down 10 points), independents (41%, down 12 points), and Republicans (7%, down 6 points),” the pollster reports. “Disapproval of her job performance is at a new high of 45 percent.”
That dip could give Fiorina some hope that she can reclaim the lead in the race between now and November 2.
Trendlines show that for now, there’s little sign that’s happening, however.
