A RACE TO THE FINISH

October 13, 1998
	In the first of a series of reports from California, John Wildermuth, political reporter for the San Francsico Chronicle, offers analysis on the California Senate race between Democratic incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer and Republican State Treasurer Matt Fong

Online NewsHour Special Report: Election '98 Return to the California index. Oct. 12, 1998: Jeffrey Kaye reports on the U.S. Senate race in California.     Articles by John Wildermuth from the San Francisco Chronicle Oct. 15, 1998: Fong, Boxer TV Ads Duel Over Abortion Oct. 13, 1998: Issues Move To Forefront In Debate Oct. 10, 1998: Boxer overshadows issues in Senate race Oct. 3, 1998: Education Is Key Issue in Senate Race Oct. 1, 1998: Fong's Senate Ads Say Different Things in Different Languages	SAN FRANCISCO: California Republican State Treasurer Matt Fong's campaign to unseat Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer received a boost last week when the highly respected Field Poll gave him a 48 percent to 44 percent lead in one of the nation's key Senate races. The August poll had the pair tied at 45 percent each.
	Sen. Boxer loses ground.
	The poll was almost all bad news for Boxer, a feisty, in-your-face liberal who has made plenty of political enemies during a decade in Congress and six years in the Senate. For the first time in this election year, more of the people polled viewed Boxer unfavorably than favorably. Meanwhile Fong, a virtual unknown on the state's political scene, is coasting along on a wave of good feeling, even though voters still aren't too sure where he stands on most of the important issues. A companion Field Poll showed that voters favor Fong even while they prefer Boxer's position on such hot button issues as education, health, gun control, abortion and the environment. In fact of the top five issues selected by voters, crime was the only one where Fong's positions got the nod. As things stand now, the election is turning out to be a referendum on Boxer's performance and so far, it's not going well for the incumbent. Both Boxer and Fong have 30-second TV spots running statewide. Fong's ad is a low-key look at his positions on educational issues, while Boxer's spot, narrated by actor Martin Sheen, slams Fong for his opposition to tougher gun laws.   --John Wildermuth