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Dynamics in the state have changed since the election. It is beginning to dawn on more people that liberal politics are killing California. They are ready to consider a genuine alternative--which is why Bustamante's support is WAY below fifty percent.

A lot of Republicans support Arnold only because they believe the fiction that a conservative cannot win. They would support McClintock if Arnold the Liberal would withdraw.

Trust me, although I would LOVE to see a conservative win in California, it's just IMPOSSIBLE with the dynamics of California today. Tell me the last time a true conservative won statewide office in California. California has PC and liberalism so stuck up its behind that any candidate who even talks about the real problems (illegal aliens sucking up services monies, out-of-control spending by the state on superfluous things like tofu shakes for homeless people, free condoms for homosexuals in bathhouses, etc) is instantly branded racist by the media and the Dems and run out of town.

Arnold is the only hope for the GOP to pick up the governor's seat in California this year. Do I agree with every single one of his policies? Of course not. Do I believe he's the only GOPer who can win? Yes. And that's why I'm going to vote for him.

A lot of Republicans support Arnold only because they believe the fiction that a conservative cannot win.

Irrelevant. A lot of the supporters of Arnold are cross-over moderate Democrats. To win California for the Republicans, you need the cross-over vote. Living here, I know many Democrats who are seriously considering voting for Arnold, but none of them considers McClintock a candidate they would vote for because he is way too socially conservative (ideologically) for their taste. Fiscal conservatives can do just fine in California all things considered.

Even if Arnold stepped out of the race, McClintock would only pick up maybe half of the votes currently going for Arnold. If McClintock stepped out of the race, Arnold would get almost all the supporters of McClintock in his camp.

Bottom line, the Republican that can attract the Democrat cross-overs in an election where you have a real chance at cross-over votes will be the only Republican that can win. Otherwise, you'll have a situation like the last gubernatorial election in California where the moderate cross-over crowd stayed home and the Democrats won by default by a minor margin.