The Los Angeles Times' Andrew Malcolm is reporting that Senator Barbara Boxer is in some re-election trouble.

The senator can't break 50% against any of her Republican challengers and her lead has been shrinking over the last several months.

A new Rasmussen poll tells the story:

Rasmussen found Boxer barely leading Republican challenger Carly Fiorina, 46-42, the same margin as January but down from a 10-point lead in September. Boxer beats former congressman Tom Campbell by the same four-point margin, 45-41, the same as in January when he jumped into the race, and is ahead of state Assemblyman Chuck Devore by only five points, 47-42, down from her November lead of 10 points and January's 46-40 spread.

Rasmussen interprets the numbers as showing the race right now is much more about the outspoken Boxer than any of her challengers or what they are doing/saying.

One particularly ominous sign for the incumbent: One out of four California voters has a very favorable opinion of Boxer. But one out of three has a very unfavorable opinion.

True, we're still 9 months out from the election and Boxer has a sizable war chest in media heavy California. But Boxer has served in Congress since 1982 - 5 terms as a prominent House member and 3 terms as senator. To be so close to three relatively unknown Republicans at this point should be worrisome for her.

Still, it will have to be a real tidal wave election to unseat the incumbent. California gave Obama 61% of its vote last November and the president is still fairly popular there. But as Scott Brown proved in another state where Obama enjoyed majority support, voters are perfectly willing to vote Republican to throw the rascals out.