Wrong. On the contrary, if 187 had been allowed to stand California would be competitive today.
Back in the day a much larger percentage of the latino vote had roots here extending back more than 5 or 10 years. Less susceptible to the democrat's racial pandering. THAT is the difference.
Doubtful. There isn't very much a state can do about immigration policy. Just like Arizona's law, 187 was more symbolic than substantive.