Yes, I think there was a national trend towards repudiation of racial politics. However, in California, it appears that the reverse is true. Having Cruz Bustamante on the statewide ticket was helpful to Davis' leverage.
There's alot of second guessing that has to be going on in the CA-GOP. The failure to have better unity (i.e. the divisive psyops of the DNC) has worked in California.
There is one solution... we have to introspectively evaluate the statewide returns and evaluate the election better.
I am not unhappy about Simon's loss. As Governor, he would have presided over a fiscal trainwreck and a repeat of the power shortage fiasco of 2001. The Legislature would have given him no assistance, and he would have been the target of 100% of the blame from the liberal media. He would have been a one-term Governor.
Instead, this is all going to be the the responsibility of the Democrats. They are the ones who are going to have to raise taxes and cut services. They are going to incur the wrath of Californians. It sets up the potential for a total upheaval in California politics, something which must happen before the Republicans can ascend to power.
It's going to be painful to California residents over the next 2-4 years, but it would have been painful under Simon as well. It's going to work out better for us in the long run.