The race for U.S. Senate in California came down to the wire.

Eventhough Senator Barbara Boxer had been targeted as one of the vulnerable Democratic incumbents this year and she had ed trailed throughout much of the campaign, a final surge of advertising pushed her past State Treasurer Matt Fong. Boxer, in the end managed a 10-point victory over the Republican.

Political analysts had been keeping a close eye on the race for signs of a political fall-out over the Lewinsky matter.

Sen. Boxer, a close ally of the president whose daughter is married to Hillary Rodham Clinton's brother, had been attacked by Mr. Fong for what he has called an inadequate criticism of Mr. Clinton's relationship with the White House intern.

But Senator Boxer, who condemned the president's behavior on the Senate floor, argued it was time to move on. "We can sit back and talk about Clinton's problems," Senator Boxer commented at a recent televised debate with Mr. Fong, "or we can talk about what matters to people."

During the campaign, some regional analysts offer their views on the issues that were shaping the campaign.

Analysis will be provided by Dr Carl Luna, Dr Joe McKenzie and John Wildermuth.

John Wildermuth covers politics for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Dr. Carl Luna and Dr. Joe McKenzie are professors of political science at San Diego Mesa College.