This was a point I was making last week, when it became apparent that the Bustamante campaign was flagging -- due to the strategy shift by the Clinton/McAuliffe/Carville "braintrust" to try and go solely for the "No" on recall vote. Their internals were telling them that great trouble was ahead and Bustamante couldn't move, so they threw everything on saving Davis. It had become certain that Arnold would win Part 2. At that point, where our enemy's strategy shifted, it was important that McClintock stay in the race. His faction simply couldn't accept the social conditions favored by the other 85-90% of Californians. But with him in the race, they would come out and vote "Yes" on part 1 -- and thus help Arnold to a great mandate, by holding down the "Davis" vote.
I have always been an Arnold backer -- but I will say now, like I said last week, that a significant chunk of Arnold's great success tonight (the huge vote on Part 1) can be attributed to McClintock staying in the race and keeping his voters in the race on Part 1. We owe them kudos and respect for that. I'd rather have a reluctant ally than a neutral party.