— From the Sacramento Bee, Dan Walters
As Simon emerged in the late going as the most likely nominee, an intense debate developed in political circles over whether he had a prayer of ousting Davis, one of the most ruthlessly focused politicians the state has ever spawned. Even as he was spending millions to help Simon to secure the GOP nomination — without admitting it, of course — Davis and his advisers were plotting how to bury him. And, they left little doubt, it would be a replay of Davis’ assault on Dan Lungren, the very conservative Republican nominee for governor in 1998.
…
Simon spokesman Jamie Fisfis said Tuesday night that, “We’re not going to let Gray Davis define Bill Simon. We’re going to define him as the incompetent governor he’s been.”
But it remains uncertain whether someone as well-bred and polite as Simon can become a junkyard dog.