That sounds somewhat similar to the Senate race battle in '92 for the open Cranston seat. However, in that case, you had 2 Northerners (Boxer, and Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy) vs. 1 Southerner (L.A. Rep. Mel Levine). By all accounts, Levine should've been able to exploit the regional situation, but as the most "Conservative" (albeit still very liberal), he placed a paltry 3rd. The carryover to the general reflected Southern CA not wanting two Bay Area Northerners representing it in the Senate (Bruce Herschensohn carried Southern CA in the general, as did incumbent Sen. John Seymour from Anaheim against Feinstein).
It was interesting to read in Barone's '94 Almanac that he criticized Wilson for not appointing a little-known Stanford Professor named Condi Rice. ;-)
lol. I'm confused by your statement. Who was doing the criticizing?