1967:  American actress and activist Jane Fonda in the title role of the film 'Barbarella', directed by Roger Vadim. Costumes by Paco Rabanne.  (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)“>

Jane Fonda is co-hosting a fundraising event today to benefit California Barbara Boxer’s re-election bid against Carly Fiorina. The event even has a title, ‘Keep Change Alive’, according to an article in The Hill today. Fonda will be joined by two other personalities, Tobey (Spiderman?) Maguire and Alyssa (Poison Ivy 2) Milano in promoting Boxer’s campaign.

ORINDA, CA - JUNE 03: U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (R) (D-CA) speaks during a press conference after she toured the Caldecott Tunnel fourth bore project June 3, 2010 in Orinda, California. Sen. Boxer visited the Caldecott Tunnel project that is being partially funded by federal stimulus dollars and is expected to create 4,000 - 4,500 new jobs. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)


ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 8: US Senate candidate and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina celebrates her primary win at the California Republican Party event on California Primary Election night on June 8, 2010 in Anaheim, California. Fiorina hopes to unseat Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer who is in a virtual tie with Republican challenger Tom Campbell, according to a recent poll. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)“>

Republicans are countering by asking demonstrators to show up with American flags and have signs protesting Barbara ‘Don’t Call Me Ma’am’ Boxer. As we would recall, last year at a senatorial hearing, Brigadier General Michael Walsh referred to male senators as sir; when he referred to Boxer as ma’am, she took offense and chastised him, telling Walsh to refer to her as Senator Boxer.

The California Senate race is very close. Recent polls have Boxer slightly ahead, but within the margin of error against Fiorina. Many political observers, including this one, eagerly anticipate the first debate between these two less than affable candidates. It should be reminiscent of the Thrilla in Manila, where both pugilists were exhausted by the numerous body blows thrown throughout the match.