If McCain can put a state like California in play, Democrats should be very distressed. This is a cycle that the party should be seeking to push purple states blue, not waste millions defending core Electoral College delegates.
Yet the latest Field Poll suggests that McCain can go toe-to-toe in California… against Hillary Clinton.

The same poll gives Obama a (still-to-tight but at least) comfortable 7 point margin in the Golden State.

WSJ.com:

Significantly, the poll has Sen. McCain statistically tied with Sen. Clinton in a hypothetical matchup, suggesting Democrats’ lock on the state and its 55 electoral votes — critical to their hopes for the White House — could be picked. Sen. Obama bests Sen. McCain in a hypothetical face-off by seven percentage points.