If the talking heads are to be believed, a three-term incumbent running in a virtually uncontested primary should cruise to an easy victory with overwhelming support. But Barbara Boxer’s win on Election Night was decidedly underwhelming (much like the rest of her 34-year political career. But that’s a post for another day).

Despite her obvious money and name identification advantage, Boxer was unable to earn the support of 20 percent of California Democrats statewide. She fared even worse in the Central Valley, revealing the significant weakness she faces in that key electoral region. In fact, Boxer’s support was 12.5 percentage points LOWER in the Central Valley than her statewide average. In many of those counties, she wasn’t even able to earn the support of two-thirds of the Democratic voters.

Then again, perhaps we shouldn’t be all that surprised by Boxer’s lackluster performance in the region. After all, unemployment in the Central Valley is, on average, 4 points HIGHER than the statewide average. That’s, of course, thanks to Boxer’s consistent vote throughout her time in Washington for job-killing bills that have stifled economic growth and recovery. And last year, Boxer voted with enthusiasm for an economic “stimulus” bill that has stimulated nothing but the growth of the size and scope of government. As for her promise that unemployment would stay below 8 percent? Not so much, especially for the Valley.

“Jobless Numbers Are Up Across The Country, But Few Places Are Seeing The Rise As Quickly As The Central Valley.” (KMPH, 3/6/09)

Central Valley Unemployment “Continues To Soar.” “Some say the recession is over but the unemployment rate here in the Valley continues to soar. … The newly released unemployment numbers show an even greater number of people in the Valley are now out of work.” (KSEE, 11/20/09)

Of course, it’s an Election Year, and that means Barbara Boxer is feeling the heat. She knows she has to ramp up her rhetoric if she’s going to have a chance at winning. But no matter what Barbara Boxer does to talk about “job creation” and “economic stimulus,” the numbers don’t lie. And the numbers tell us Barbara Boxer is failing the people of the Central Valley.