Speculation is rampant in California that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will challenge liberal Democrat Barbara Boxer for her Senate seat in 2010 – and a new poll has them running neck and neck.

A California Field survey of registered voters released Tuesday showed Schwarzenegger with 44 percent of the votes in a hypothetical election, and Boxer with 43 percent. The rest were undecided.

The poll also showed Schwarzenegger with a favorable job performance rating – 56 percent of respondents said they approve of his performance as governor, and only 23 percent disapprove, with his support coming from a majority of both Republicans and Democrats.

“It would be a fabulous battle royale,” Republican consultant Rob Stutzman, the governor’s former communications director, told the San Jose Mercury News about a Schwarzenegger-Boxer match-up.

“And poll numbers like these just feed the parlor game.”

Three-term Sen. Boxer is up for re-election in 2010, when Gov. Schwarzenegger will be finishing his second and final term

Barbara Boxer vs. Arnold Schwarzenegger Latest Poll
by: Bob Brigham
Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 13:42:41 PM PST

Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 1/5-7. Likely voters. MoE +/- 4%
Boxer (D) 49
Schwarzenegger (R) 40

It isn't likely that there are a pair of socks thick enough to warm Arnold's cold feet and his 51% unfavorable is only likely to grow as he has joined the Republican legislators in stonewalling a budget. But, the fact that 31% of California Democrats have a favorable view shows how much work the CDP has not done. Hopefully, despite John Burton's close friendship, the CDP will remedy that number.

As for Boxer, she is under 50% in a head-to-head, but the poll didn't test her re-elect number. Her net favorable is only two points, which is also a concern. With only 2/3 of Democrats holding a favorable view, she needs to shore up her base. Her best age group is the under 30 crowd with a net +8, but she is nowhere near the range of the Barack Obama youth surge

Oh god. Heaven help us.

Hes already doing a miserable job as governor. Too many budget cuts on his part. I miss having the DMVs open during weekends