Disturbing, isn't it? Sheehan is probably a bigger threat to DiFi than a Republican candidate.
Is she really running in the Democrat primary? She doesn't stand a chance!
Any GOP candidate would need to find some Dem support, perhaps by a strong anti-tax platform that is easy to understand? Many Californians benefit from the Bush tax-cuts but will suffer from the alternative minimum tax (now or eventually), and many Californians will have a large tax hike when the temporary tax cuts expire by the end of 2010, as the President reminded everyone last night. It's still possible to appeal to the pocketbooks of middle-class liberals.
Notwithstanding that it probably won't make any difference this year, CA voters registered with no party affiliation (decline to state) can request the ballot of most political parties, including of the Dem and GOP, and vote in their primaries for most offices (but not for the party central committeemembers or for Presidential nominee).