Sanchez Stumbles into the California Senate Race

Orange County Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is a candidate to replace retiring Barbara Boxer in the US Senate. At this weekend's State Democratic Convention, Sanchez had a chance to introduce herself statewide. At one stop, she gave an informal talk to a caucus of Indian Americans — that's Americans of descent from India. She told the story of a phone call from a man who wanted to support her campaign and how she confused an Indian American with Native Americans -- complete with a stereotypical war cry.

That moment reportedly became the talk of the convention — and not to Sanchez's advantage. Sanchez, from Orange County, is not well known statewide. The consensus leader for her party's US Senate nomination is Kamala Harris, who's run twice for Attorney General—and won.