OK, now I get it: Unless one candidate receives a simple majority, a runoff would be held Dec. 6 among the top finishers from each party. Seven parties are recognized in the district. It is possible to win it in the primary, but if no one does, every party is guaranteed a place in the run-off. I have never seen a system like this before, which led to some of my confusion yesterday.

Of course, I don't think we are going to win it in the run-off, as there are already two Democratic candidates running. Here is a quick run-down:

Republican Party

State Senator John Campbell -- Anti-tax, pro-business, anti-choice, and anti-gay equality. Flip-flops on immigration. The "conservative" Republican "frontrunner." Elected to the State Senate in March of 2004 after several years in the State Assembly. Full biography here. Endorsed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, nine California Republican Congressmen, 11 State Senators, 27 State Assemblymen, the Club for Growth, the Lincoln Club of Orange County, and bloggers Hugh Hewitt and "Jubal." Full endorser list here. Campaign team includes Dave Gillard and Chris Wysocki (General Consultants) and Jim Terry (Manager).

Former State Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer -- Pro-choice and pro-business. The Republican "moderate." Elected to the State Assembly in 1994, she was twice re-elected before being term limited-out in 2000. Full biography here. Endorsed by John McCain, Women in Leadership, and several former Assemblymen. Campaign team includes Harvey Englander (General Consultant and Direct Mail), Steve Kinney (Pollster), Tom Hammond (PAC Fundraiser), Peggy Goldwater Clay (Local Fundraiser), Frank Caterinicchio (Targeting), and Betty Presley (Treasurer).

Edward Suppe -- First-time candidate who believes "technology now allows ordinary citizens to compete with professional politicians." Computer industry businessman who volunteers for the Coast Guard.

Democratic Party

John Graham -- Pro-choice and pro-stem cell research. Position papers here. University of California at Irvine Professor. Democratic nominee in 2000, 2002, and 2004.

Steve Young -- "A fiscal conservative with Democratic ideals." Thoughts on numerous issues here. Lawyer. Endorsed by OC Grassroots, California Teachers for Excellence, and five Democratic clubs.

American Independent Party

Minutemen founder Jim Gilchrist -- Anti-immigration. Flip-flops on taxes. The wingnut. Endorsed by blogger Allan Bartlett. Campaign team includes Mary Parker-Lewis (General Consultant) and, in one capacity or another, Chuck Muth. Has retained Orange County based Bieber Communications to help with direct mail.

A fourth Republican, Don Udall, has filed his papers but still seems to be wait-and-see. The Green Party is going to run a candidate also. Bob Dornan might also run, and there is a rumor of a third Democratic caniddate, backed by the DCCC. I'll believe that one when I see it.

OK--so we already have two Democrats, both of whom would potentially be strong. Unless one drops out, forget about winning this in the primary. However, since it remains possible that a Republican candidate could win in the primary, it is absolutely imperative that the two Democrats do absolutely nothing to attack one another. Both must also push hard on turnout. The netroots should also serve as a third-party Democratic force in the primary, working as hard as possible simply to turn out as many Democrats as possible, no matter who they vote for. It would appear that we are already on that one:

Brigham said his new PAC hired the field director and other staffers from the Hackett campaign and is flying them to Orange County, California to work for the Democratic candidate in this fall's special election to replace Cox.

The situation in Cox's district parallels the Ohio race, where an open seat was created when Rep. Rob Portman resigned to become the U.S. Trade Representative.

Like Portman's former district in Ohio, California's 48th congressional district has long been a Republican stronghold. Cox won re-election there last November with 65 percent of the vote, while Bush carried the district with 59 percent.

We may not have a candidate chosen yet, but we do have a team in place. The goal is a squeaky clean, very positive primary that heavily focuses on turnout. If we have to win this in the general election, so be it. As the humorously named Sam Seaborn reports, this may be a Republican district, but it isn't a wingnut district.