Jones Has Big Lead for Republican Nod to Challenge Boxer

By Bill Johnson Published Jan 18, 2004 11:50 am Updated Jan 31, 2009 04:31 pm

Former California Secretary of State Bill Jones has a big lead for the Republican nomination to battle U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in the fall. A new Field Poll released today shows Jones supported by 28 percent of likely Republican voters in the March 2 primary.

Businesswoman Toni Casey and former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin are both at 6 percent — and former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian is at 3 percent. More than half the Republican voters polled — 57 percent — said they are undecided.

But even if Jones wins the nomination, he may have a tough time against the Democratic incumbent. Boxer leads Jones 48 percent to 35 percent — with 17 percent undecided. She has an even bigger lead against the three other Republican candidates.

The poll was conducted earlier this month. The results for the Republican primary have a margin of error of 5.9 percentage points. The overall results have a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.