In the end, all of this will probably be irrelevant. I expect about a week before the recall election, Davis will step down and Bustamante will step in and that'll be the end of that. It's the only outcome I see.
Democrats can read the writing on the wall and there's no way they're going to let the governor's office fall to a Republican. Davis will fall on his sword before that happens.
Sorry to burst any bubbles, but that's my prediction.
Apparently, you have missed the statements that the recall goes on even if Davis steps down, per California law. Davis should have stepped down before the petitions wee certified. Now his resigning makes no difference. Bustamante might get some help by being the governor during the time leading up to the election, but I don't think it will help him that much.