Would Richard Riordan have won reelection as Gov. of Cali in 2006?

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_California_gubernatorial_election

What do you think? Honestly, I think Riordan, the moderate former Republican mayor of Los Angeles and the most recent Republican to have won that post, would have beat Davis by a lot, and won reelection by a large margin in 2006.

Had Davis not spent millions attacking him and helping the Conservative Bill Simon, and had the Republican Party not shot themselves in the foot in 2002, I think Riordan would've been remembered as a great governor, even more than Arnie.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Perhaps would he have won in 2002 in the first place is the even more interesting question.

Thoughts?

I think he could've jumpstarted the Republican resurgence during that era even earlier.