Barbara Boxer, fighting for her Senate seat, is making the closing argument about abortion. During an event which could easily become poster fodder, Senator Boxer flanked herself with Hollywood — Amy Brenneman and David Eigenberg (Steve from Sex and the City), among others — and the abortion political establishment. At the event, Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, described Boxer as “the brightest star in the galaxy of pro-choice leaders in our country.”

The conventional wisdom says that this is the only way for Boxer to run. It’s her defining issue. She’s won this way before. But I wonder if this will be the year it doesn’t work. From a piece I did earlier this fall:

There could be a political danger in this strategy, even in California. “Since fiscal issues dominate every poll of women in California (and nationwide), spending even a nanosecond on abortion in a 15-second spot screams, ‘I am out of touch; send me packing — please!’” warns Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway. Further, “the use of the word ‘abortion’ shows how tone-deaf she is to her own supporters. The abortion-rights crowd hates it because it reminds everyone what the product of the ‘choice’ really is.” So while Boxer calls the other gal extreme, the word fits her well.

Wherever you stand on abortion, you might find Boxer’s political strategy questionable. Even in California.