Behind a crowd of supporters at Sacramento State, in what washer second day of a 13-stop tour, Sen. Barbara Boxer highlightedthe issues that will drive her campaign for the next eightmonths.

Health Insurance, gun control, job loss and student loans wereamong many topics discussed by Boxer in her speech, which lastedabout 20 minutes.

“We need to fight for jobs and we need to fight for health care– that’s what this election is all about,” Boxer said.

Boxer touted her accomplishments that included the fight againstspecial interest, such as corporate polluters and the gun lobby.She also criticized her opponent Bill Jones, claiming that he is tothe right of the republicans and does not represent the diversepopulation of California.

“My opponent seems like he will say anything to get elected,”Boxer said.

The crowd was mixed, but generally consisted of college studentsfrom various campuses throughout the Sacramento area.

Claudia Solis, a freshman at Sac State, said she came to theevent to support Boxer.

“I think she was really effective in getting her message acrossto the audience,” Solis said.

The Progressive Student Union, College Democrats and theDisabled Student Union sponsored the event. Robert Adelon,president of College Democrats, helped to bring Boxer tocampus.

“It just stunned me,” said Adelon about getting the two-termsenator to visit Sac State.

Sac State professor Nick Burnett, who teaches communicationsstudies, said he was more interested in the spectacle rather thanthe candidate.

“(The rally is) great; students get the chance to see a part ofthe political process they normally don’t see,” Burnett said.

Outside of the rally, which took place in the University Union,stood supporters of republican challenger Bill Jones. Jeff Allen, astudent at Sac State and president of College Republicans, saidthat the Jones’ campaign did not directly encourage students orother activists to hound Boxer supporters.

“We received a bit of information, but there wasn’t any realencouragement,” Allen said.

Allen criticized the senator for not getting California its fairshare of federal tax dollars and for not being accessible to thevoters.

“It seems like Barbara only comes out of San Francisco when sheneeds to raise funds for her office,” Allen said.

Meanwhile, Jones spent most of the day campaigning in San Diego.In a recent statement released to the press, Jones criticizes manyof Boxers statements. For example, Boxer maintains that she hasbeen fighting to keep health care affordable, but Jones contendsthat she has actually increased the cost of medical care byblocking tort reform and denying tax relief.

“The best way to make sure we have good health care for ourfamilies, the best way to make sure we can afford our children’seducation and the best way to ensure a strong revenue base is toensure that we attract and retain good, high-paying jobs toCalifornia,” the press release from Jones said.