Ummm... Actually Dan we do have a candidate - Mr. B! And to echo what gc4nra said, the area is anything but solid Democrat territory, we have the right candidate carrying the right message running for a new and open seat, that gives us a solid shot.
We could run a few miles away to safer Orange County territory and get in line to run, or turn tail and leave the state altogether, but some of chose to stay and fight on the battlefield we've been dealt. Remember, this is California - where redistricting was a royal screwjob delivered to us by our own legislators (yes, including the Republicans) whose sole interest was protecting and lengthening their careers. If our only interest was in taking shots at districts that looked like a sure bet on paper, we'd be a sorry bunch of gutless S.O.B.'s.
From what gc4NRA said, this is a winnable area although tough. We almost took an East Lansing/Meridian Township seat before, and East Lansing is 65% dem, and Meridian is about half. He gave it a run though.
I may be a little skeptical, and almost to a fault because of the last race I was in. We got killed in a primary. It wasn't an issues race as all the candidates nearly agreed down the line. We had no money, and no party backing.
But I had to remember one thing. Steve Stockman won and beat a 40 year dem incumbent, and KLINTON won there.