Tony's really going to have to spend his money, now that he's the Democrat nominee. He's got a lot of baggage, and Morales didn't have the money to get that message out. Morales' main backing came from trial lawyers, who are not held in the same esteem as TLs are held in California.
Tony's going to have to answer over and over again for the inconsistencies in his record, such as his absences from the UT Board of Regents meetings. How can education be his top priority if he can't find time for these meetings?
I don't know much about his failed S & L (yet), but there'll be plenty of reporting on that. Nevertheless, the Republicans have great candidates across the board, and it will be to the Democrats peril to underestimate Rick Perry.
Don't forget that Sanchez, Kirk, and the others will have to do it on their own. Any outside help, such as visits from Gephardt, Hillary!, etc. will not be viewed favorably by fence-sitters. Henry Cisneros' advocacy of Ron Kirk was NOT favorably received in Hispanic circles, according to my sources.
Seven months is an eternity in politics...relax, the Republicans will do fine in November. Besides, as we get closer to November, the outrage will grow with the shenanigans in the Democrat-hijacked Senate! The motivation to send Jeffords back to obscurity will (hopefully) light a fire in recalcitrant Repub. voters.