But Boxer got some outside aid as well, including from labor unions. Outside groups spent more than $2 million on independent expenditures either supporting Boxer or opposing Fiorina. During the final few weeks, a number of abortion rights groups stepped in to help the three-term senator who has been among their champions throughout her career. Planned Parenthood groups alone spent more than half a million dollars on phone banking, radio ads and Internet ads.
Ultimately, all those groups helped Boxer cement her 10-point margin of victory — raising questions about whether Republican groups will be as willing to pour money into another California Senate race, given that they were unable this year to take advantage of the odds in their favor .
