Dem Sen. Boxer warns her colleagues: Don’t take your seats for granted

Boxer, who’s facing one of the most competitive election challenges in her own career, warned colleagues of overlooking the “tough times” many voters are facing with the economy.

“I really think nobody can take their seat for granted,” Boxer said during an appearance on California CBS affiliate KCAL. “These are tough times we’re going through in California and America, and I’m not going to sugarcoat that.”

A bevy of top-tier Republicans have lined up to challenge Boxer this fall, in hopes of picking up the California Senate seat for the GOP.

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore and former Rep. Tom Campbell are all duking it out right now in the GOP primary.

But Boxer took the attacks by at least one Republican, Karl Rove, a former top political guru for President George W. Bush, as a badge of honor.

“Karl Rove is the architect of the most disastrous economic policies this country has ever seen,” Boxer said in response to comments by Rove suggesting the senator is beatable this fall. “So if Karl Rove is against me, I think that’s in my favor.”