The incumbent U.S. Senator from California, Barbara Boxer, and her opponent for the Senate seat, Carly Fiorina, faced a panel of journalists and questions from individual voters in a debate tonight.  The debate was held this evening at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California.

As Senator Barbara Boxer frequently stated, the choice between herself and Carly Fiorina is clear.  Although the candidates tended to avoid answering questions directly and often shifted their answers toward subjects they preferred to address, their answers and comments strongly reflected partisan lines.  

Senator Barbara Boxer, a Democrat, celebrated her record of enacting over 1,000 provisions, including aid to children and veterans.  Senator Boxer emphasized her role in sponsoring and supporting legislation to create jobs, reform Wall Street, fund transportation, and move California to a clean energy economy.

Republican Carly Fiorina blamed Senator Boxer and the Democrats for the 12.3% unemployment rate in California while largely ignoring the economic meltdown of 2008 that occurred under the watch of the Bush administration.

Job creation was a significant - if not the most significant - issue in tonight's debate.  Carly Fiorina is a supporter of deregulation for small business owners.  Senator Boxer strongly supported an emergency state aid bill opposed by Carly Fiorina that saved the jobs of approximately 16,500 California teachers and closed tax loopholes for companies that ship U.S. jobs overseas.     

Furthermore, Senator Boxer criticized Carly Fiorina for laying off thousands of American workers and shipping 30,000 jobs overseas while serving as the former Chair and CEO of Hewlett-Packard.  

Senator Boxer stated that she wants to see the words "Made in America" on products that we buy in the U.S.  Senator Boxer also criticized Carly Fiorina for taking a $21 million severance package after being ousted at HP.

Other clear choices along partisan lines involve gay marriage, a woman's right to choose, and clean energy.  Senator Boxer supports gay marriage while Carly Fiorina believes that it is inappropriate for a judge to overturn Proposition 8, which was passed by California voters in opposition to gay marriage.

Senator Barbara Boxer is firmly pro-choice, while Carly Fiorina, who has the endorsement of Tea Party leader Sarah Palin, would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Carly Fiorina stated that she has no position on California's Proposition 23, which would repeal AB32, California's landmark climate change law, and suspend global warming initiatives until unemployment in California drops to 5.5% or less.  Senator Boxer, who wants California to be the hub of clean energy, strongly supports AB32 and considers it a means of creating clean energy jobs.

As Senator Barbara Boxer states, the choice between herself and Carly Fiorina is a clear one.

To listen to the September 1, 2010 debate between Senator Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina click here.

For general information about the midterm elections on November 2, 2010, including voting and voter registration in Los Angeles County, click here.