Bill Simon offers a clear choice to Gray Davis. Voters will always vote the status quo given two candidates who are virtually the same. Simon offers a difference.
Simon is not "hard" like Dan Lungren. He has common sense, is compassionate, and has the charitable background that will help exude a sense of warmth and character. It will be hard to pin a "right-wing extremist" label on him when he has proven he cares about people, the underprivileged, etc., etc.
Simon is smart. He can hold his own with Gray Davis, and knows more about budgeting, the economy and business than any career politician.
Simon has actually DONE something with his life, and can point to his accomplishments as a businessman, a prosecutor, and a philantropist. He has tangible accomplishments. While Davis IS the sitting governor, he has done nothing but politics his entire life practically. While this is the million dollar question ... are people sick of career politicians? ... I think the answer is yes, and that helps Simon.
Because Davis has so many problems (budget, taxes, energy, etc), Simon can come in and offer alternatives on every Davis screw-up. If Davis pushes on the social issues, and Simon talks economy and energy and people will think Davis is avoiding the hard questions.
Simon, conservative; Davis, liberal. But Davis is REALLY liberal, and Simon is a warm, compassionate conservative. People will vote for someone they don't agree with on everything if they LIKE the person and they KNOW where they stand -- no surprises. People did not LIKE Dan Lungren, and Lungren betrayed the gunners.
Now if he works with his aids on improving his appearance and mannerisms incrementally, so it's natural and not forced, he's a sure winner.
The leftists only chance would be in stealing the vote -- and that's something else again, especially in the urban areas. You, of course, know who could do something to prevent that this time?