Perhaps you forgot the most recent election where the conservative, Bill Simon, was beaten by the unpopular liberal, Gray Davis.
I'm amused by all the denial. The Democrats control California. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the only credible chance to break that lock at the present time. McClintock will simply split the anti-Davis/Bustamante vote, probably enough to elect Bustamante, assuming the recall succeeds.
Perhaps you forgot recent elections when liberal, pro abortion Republicans -- Tom Campbell, Matt Fong and John Seymour -- got creamed by Democrats in statewide elections. This idea that it's social conservatism that has led to GOP defeats doesn't explain the defeats of socially liberal Republicans.