I have been with Governor Romney (listen for our FR Podcast interview tomorrow), and only now am able to let readers know that Governor Schwarzenegger did, in fact, endorse Senator McCain this morning.

As an elected officer of the State GOP, I have not endorsed any candidate. But I will offer McCain some unsolicited advice. Since you are trying to garner conservative support in the final days, you should actually take Arnold on the road to other states, where his status as a celebrity will help your momentum. Here in California, “post partisan” Arnold has worked hard to alienate conservatives (after counting on their support in two statewide elections).

Senator, perhaps have your campaign strategists contact the folks trying to pass the Indian Gambling Compacts on the same ballot. They, too, are trying to move conservatives to support their cause. They’ve pulled their ads featuring the Governor…

Don’t get me wrong – good for you in receiving Arnold’s support. I just don’t think that he will be a good messenger to the very GOP voters you are trying to attract to your candidacy.… Read More

A couple of weeks ago, I noted that former Congressman Doug Ose had decided to run. Now it’s official…sort of. Ose is set to declare Friday in Auburn and has been seen at numerous events in the Roseville area over the past few weeks.

The Roundup carried the following report: "Meanwhile, Doug Ose has decided that the term limits pledge he upheld when he gave up his seat was not a lifetime one, meaning Rico won’t have an easy dance in the primary for John Doolittle’s seat."

A similar report ran in a Sacramento Bee story as well…

It looks like Ose has positioned himself well — he’s got $460,000 left in his Congressional campaign account; and two weeks ago, moderate Mike Holmes dropped out of the race. Holmes praised Ose in his statement to the press, leaving the impression he was clearing out in favor of Ose.

So it looks like another showdown between Ose and conservative former State Senator… Read More

I’m on the road, so here is the latest off the transom from the freedom fighters at No on 93: Desperate Nunez Contributes $1.1 Million to Yes on 93 to Save Speakership Sacramento – Apparently Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez believes it’s a matter of life or death whether he can keep his powerful post until 2014 by passing Proposition 93. At least that’s what recent television advertising by the Yes on 93 campaign suggested. Nunez’s team used EMT Tim Heard to tie the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and wildfires in California to the need to change term limits in their advertising. Who would have thought so much was on the line on whether the Speaker and his fellow Sacramento legislators can lengthen their terms in office? But then again, Proposition 93 has always been about Fabian Nunez and his lust for the power, perks and personal financial gain of public office. So it’s no wonder that a committee controlled by Nunez now reports contributing a total of almost $1.1 million to the Yes on Proposition 93 campaign. Obviously, the Speaker has waited until the last possible moment to contribute a total amount in excess of $1… Read More

Nick Romero and I have finally made it to the “spin room” here at the Reagan Library. The security here is pretty hardcore, but somehow Nick and I have our names on the media list as “credentialed journalists” – go figure. We had to park off site, and shuttle over with a bunch of real reporters. Now that we’re here, we’ll go see how many reporters bash on Republicans when they “think” no one is listening.… Read More

In between 3:40 pmand 7:32 pm today I received 14 different press releases at the same email address from Team Romney, 11 of them literally in a 62 minute time span between 6:09 and 7:11 pm.

I’ve heard of trying to keep folks informed, but did the Romney Press Shop want me to watch the debate or read their barrage? After the fifth one, it became drivel, quickly going to the trash. I’m not exactly a big John McCain partisan, but excessiveness is not becoming the Romney camp. I don’t know whether to think he’s grasping at straws or be embarrassed by the clumsiness of such a "media effort."… Read More

Former FR Managing Editor Nicholas Romero and I are heading out soon for Ventura County. First to the Americans for Prosperity Summit where yours truly will be introducing Hugh Hewitt. Then we are on to stop #2. We are credentialed to cover the Presidential Debate later today at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. That said, there is a ton of stuff on our main page. On two closing notes — for those who are trying to follow the Presidential election, I recommend Real Clear Politics as a good site, and finally I want to thank FR Friend Michelle Malkin for the shout out this morning.

Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?

Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.… Read More

Except for a brief time before his exit when I decided to vote for Fred Thompson, this presidential contest marks the first time in my entire life I have been undecided in a GOP nomination fight.

Going into tonight’s debate at the Ronald Reagan Library, I was strongly considering voting for Sen. John McCain, in spite of McCain-Feingold and other heresies. After watching McCain in action tonight, he’d have to make a heckuva case in the next few days to keep me from voting for Romney.

There were a number of flash points tonight that pushed me away from going with McCain. First was his exchange with Mitt Romney over his charge that Romney supported fixed timetables for withdrawal. McCain was obviously misrepresenting what Romney said. Even Anderson Cooper pointed out that Romney had not called for publicly fixing deadlines for withdrawal.

Yet even after his misrepresentation was made plain to him, McCain stuck to his story and continued insisting that Romney had said something that Romney clearly had not — and at that point it just becomes a lie. And that’s significant for a man who has built his campaign on honor, straight talk and… Read More

Measure D is ascheme on the February ballot that "updates" the utility tax in Pasadena to include email, digital downloads as well asInternet and cell phone use. Freedomworks run by former Congressman Dick Armey have targeted the tax for defeat.

The tax effort comes as Pasadena continues to have a huge ballot surplus. Godspeed Freedomworks.… Read More