US Senate race between Kamala Harris, Loretta Sanchez heats up in California

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- It's California's biggest statewide race this election cycle, the one to replace retiring United States Senator Barbara Boxer. It pits California Attorney General Kamala Harris against Southern California Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. While they are both Democrats, there are some clear differences.

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With a big lead in the polls and with less than three weeks before the election, Harris says she's not counting on being a U.S. Senator, just yet, especially not in this election cycle.

"This is a moment in time I think, more than any other in recent history, that requires people to step out, to speak out and to vote. So the work that we're putting into these last 19 days is to reach out to people in their communities, reminding them that their voice matters," Harris said.

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Harris joined San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, himself a state senate candidate, for a quick campaign stop in Noe Valley.

Earlier, Harris' rival congresswoman Loretta Sanchez appeared at the University of California, Los Angeles before a group of ROTC students.

"I know what it means to serve and I know and have seen the dangers and the challenges of our warriors when they're in the field," Lynch said. "I have seen the sacrifice of what it takes to defend this country."

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As a member of House Armed Services and Homeland Security committees, Sanchez touts her experience in military affairs, foreign policy and counter-terrorism.

Harris, as Califorrnia's top cop, points to her crackdown on big banks, for-profit colleges and transnational gangs.

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