I don't think that was a overly "genuine" risk. Bustamante cooked his own goose -- on a nationwide level, already with his "past assertions and affiliations". But yes, it was a risk. From my pov, the risk was "how much hidden money in those "closets", did Dems have to "get out" or "manuever" the vote. Dems assessed correctly, IMHO, to re-direct some of those amounts elsewhere after the Bustamante "flap". Then! McClintock went for his feint. Which, IM Assessment threw more votes into the Arnold category. And remind you -- we are talking about voters, regardless of political identity -- who voted in majority FOR Props 187, Ron Unz's init, "the marriage" as one-man-one-woman" init, and 209. (off the top my head, forgive me, I can't recall the init numbers affirmatively, and don't wish to get them wrong -- these were good inits.)
I think CA has become much more liberal in recent years.