(AP) Today, any notion of a Republican ascendancy in California seems to have gone the way of the dot-com boom, as polls show Schwarzenegger's job approval ratings sliding and voters unconvinced about the need for his November special election.

But political observers caution against any complacency or smugness among Democrats, warning that the state's sour political mood holds peril for them, as well.

"Anyone who thinks that this is the end of the story is naive," state California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres said. "We as Democrats have a huge responsibility to come up with results."