EDITORIAL POPULIST VICTORY ... THE TRUTH WINS OUT OVER PROP. 93.

YOU can fool some of the people some of the time, but California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata weren't able to fool enough of them on Super Tuesday.

In the campaign for Proposition 93, Nunez and Perata had all the advantages:

They had the money, which poured in from all of Sacramento's special interests. Nunez even shook down his subordinates in the Assembly -- who know better than to cross the man who calls the shots -- for $50,000 contributions.

They had the ballot language, thanks to Attorney General Jerry Brown. Brown wrote up a misleading description to make Proposition 93 appear as though it would tighten up term limits when really it would eviscerate them -- for the sole purpose of keeping Nunez, Perata and their pals in office.

They had the right election. With the vote coming on Super Tuesday, many voters who were there only to elect a president -- and who knew nothing of Proposition 93 other than what they read on Brown's bogus ballot -- were casting votes.

They even had Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who flip-flopped and endorsed Proposition 93, even though he previously said he wouldn't support the measure unless it were tied to redistricting reform.

Nunez and Perata had everything going for them -- everything, that is, except for the truth.

And on Tuesday, the truth won out.

But it was an uphill battle. Back in October, 49 percent of Californians said they were in favor of Proposition 93, compared with just 31 percent opposed.

Aiding the truth in its cause were the media, which exposed the lies behind Proposition 93. And the role of Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner -- who spent $2.5 million of his own money to defeat the measure -- cannot be overstated.

This is a good moment for California. For once, the people have triumphed over the politicians and their treachery.