Simon say it isn't so

Politics | Tough week for California Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon

Tough week for California Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon: First an "arms-length" campaign swing from the president, who at two public events in the state didn't even mention the troubled candidate's name, then Mr. Simon himself put conservative supporters at arms length by embracing parts of the gay agenda.

In San Francisco last week Mr. Simon announced he would "take a look at" new domestic-partnership laws, would do nothing to reverse a controversial new law—AB25—granting legal protections for cohabiting gays, and would if elected declare a state Gay Pride Day.

Some GOP strategists worry that the moves, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, are fresh evidence that the Simon campaign is imploding in the wake of a huge lawsuit against Mr. Simon's investment company, fundraising troubles, and the layoff of three dozen campaign workers. A new poll finds him losing ground to Democrat Gov. Gray Davis; Mr. Simon now trails 41 percent to 30 percent.