Pat Brown would have been hard to beat, being popular and well
versed in the local state issues that a governorship race has the
focus upon. And Nixon was not too familar nor was enjoying the
act of learning. Brown was particularly good at agricultural water
issues, which the state practically is driven by economically and
though lobbists (agriculture is bigger than military contracting, a
surprising fact for outsiders).
That being said, initially Brown was found to be rather worried in
at least one historical account. In memory, it went like this
"[I was worried. Here was this guy who had been around all
the world leaders with a tough stance and I just sort of bump
along. But then in the campaign it came out he was not charming,
having the opposite qualities, what ever that is.]"
So Brown discovered some repulsive qualities, an introvert in an
extroverted profession. If Nixon had better front men to shield
him, as Ike [Eisenhower] had in his group, it is very possible
for the campaign to have done a lot more groundwork preparation.