Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) was deeply unpopular among Californians last fall, with only 41% of adults and 45% of likely voters approving of her performance, according to the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). However, her decision to retire has been followed by a dramatic increase in her popularity: 53% of adults and 51% of likely voters now approve in a new PPIC poll.
One reason for Boxer’s sudden popularity could be that Californians are more optimistic about the state and about political leaders in general. Another could be that Californians have simply seen her name in the news more often recently.
Or it is possible that a significant number of Californians are simply happy to see Senator Boxer go–and wish her well.
Senior Editor-at-Large Joel B. Pollak edits Breitbart California and is the author of the new ebook, Wacko Birds: The Fall (and Rise) of the Tea Party, available for Amazon Kindle.
Follow Joel on Twitter: @joelpollak