The big moneymen in California are mostly country clubbers, from what I have seen. They certainly have done a great job screwing up the party in California and pretty well killing the chances that a conservative can ever get elected again in that state.
They could have had Bill Simon, but instead they ended up with Arnold, who for all I know is more amenable to their personal wishes.
Actually, McClintock was the front runner for Repubs.
Thompson doesn’t need CA to get elected anyway, although he will get more votes from there than McInsane ever would.