riordan does have name recognition + political experience. so, he has a better chance.
gov grey is dead meat.
riordan is a liberal republican, catholic. he's best buds with bishop mcphony. indeed, riordan + his millionaire friends bought the church leader his own helicopter in the mid-80's. the only catholic leader piloting his own helicopter, imagine that! (/sar)
apparently you don't like los angeles.
As for "experience" Simon has the kind of experience a fellow named Ronald Reagan had when he was elected governor -- experience in the real world. Another guy named George W. Bush had a similar amount of experience when he was elected governor of Texas
You want government "experience," then Gray Davis is your man. Davis is a lifetime career politician and that's what you get with that kind of experience. Al Gore has lots and lots of "experience" so does Bill Clinton. Rudy Giuliani had none of that experience when he came in and turned NY City around.
Not only is Bill Simon the man for the job. He is going to win. Period. It won't even be close.