A new Field Poll shows Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer eight points ahead of Republican senate candidate Carly Fiorina, 49 percent to 41 percent.

Six percent of likely voters remain undecided, while four percent back a different candidate.

Boxer, who has increased her lead from last month’s six point advantage, is doing well among independent voters, supported by 49 percent to Fiorina’s 32 percent.

The Field Poll likely voter respondees were 44 percent Democrat, 39 percent Republican, and 17 percent independent. Comparing that to the 2006 California voters, that’s an increase, by three and four percentage points respectively, of the number of Democrats and Republicans voting, and a significant decrease (eight percentage points) of non-partisan voters. With Republican enthusiasm high, and Democrat morale low, it’s unclear how different the 2010 electorate will be from the 2006 electorate, which brought a new surge of Democrats to elected office.

Boxer continues to have wider recognition than Fiorina, with 95 percent of likely voters familiar with her compared to 84 percent for Fiorina. Boxer is viewed unfavorably by 47 percent and favorably by 48 percent. Fiorina’s favorable and unfavorable ratings are both 42 percent.

The poll was conducted October 14 – 26, and included 1,092 likely voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.