Brandon Powers (here and here) and Jon Fleischman (here) previously posted about the "Team 2006" Sovereign Nations PACand the significant IEs the combined tribal effort is pursuing. Despite Saturday’s SDUT article depicting some sort of falling out between the tribes making up the new PAC, and its impact on Tony Strickland — with one of the tribes switching its funding to John Chiang apparently (although Tony is still benefiting hugely)— a load of other IE dollars are being spent.

Here’s the updated 24-hour list of the most significant late IEs by Team 2006:

Republicans: Guy Houston – AD 15 – $224,000 Audra Strickland – AD 37 – $121,000 Shirley Horton – AD 78 – $281,000… Read More

I took some photos on my trusty Motorola RZR phone at the Irvine V6 Headquaters earlier during the Governor’s GOTV visit. Pardon some of the poor quality, it is a phone camera, after all…

Lot of television cameras were on hand to listen to the Governor this morning.

Councilwoman Christina Shea welcomes the Governor to Irvine!

The Governor talks to a Victory ’06 GOP Volunteer.… Read More

Sunday in San Bernardino County was, appropriately, a day of reflection. It started with the McTour bus visiting the Upland GOP Headquarters where Sen. Tom McClintock (pictured right) and Secretary of State Bruce McPherson thanked the volunteers who are helping make 60,000 calls in the county’s final push to get out the vote.

Then there was the memorial service in Devore for the five U.S. Forest Service firefighters who were killed by the Esperanza Fire last week. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger led a moving tribute, and later privately presented flags to the families of the fallen firemen. In the audience were thousands of firefighters, officials from throughout the region and other mourners paying their respects.

Later, back at the Headquarters, a few of us were reviewing some internal polling from the week, including one in which we tested the Governor’s county numbers. He was at 54 percent to Phil Angelides’ 28%. Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger’s statewide numbers were showing him up 49% to 32% and climbing. The new… Read More

From the WSJ’s Best of the Web daily e-mail: Republicans’ Golden State

Democrats are supposed to do well in tomorrow’s election, but the New York Times reports from Los Angeles that one bright spot for the GOP is likely to be California, a state John Kerry carried by almost 10% of the vote:

As the FlashReport finished up our election year coverage by recognizing some of the Most Valuable Players from a few of the statewide campaigns (we are only highlighting Republicans because we really have no interest in heaping praise on the technicians who work hard to elect those who grow the size and scope of government), our focus goes to the campaign of former Assemblyman Tony Strickland, who is in a close contest with Democrat John Chiang in the race for California State Controller. And Tony’s MVP is… TONY’S MVP: PAUL HEGYI, CAMPAIGN MANAGER The FlashReport MVP Award for the Strickland for Controller campaign goes to Paul Hegyi who is the day-to-day campaign coordinator for Team Tony. Unlike the previous two campaigns we have already featured in the "MVP" category, Strickland has really had to wage two campaigns — a hard fought win in the primary… Read More

The three week radiocampaign driving Central Valley Voters to www.fresnolincolnclub.org to view our voter guide has generated an astounding 110,000 visits to the club’s website. This news bodes well for locally endorsed candidates and the ballot initiatives and seems to represent significant local interest in the elections.… Read More

Fresno Mayor Alan Autry is a friend of mine, but his politics are all over the board. In this election cycle, he is at odds with the Fresno County GOP and the Lincoln Club over his endorsement of left wing Sheriff Candidate Margaret Mims, and his support of the infrastructure bonds, which if passed and issued will plunge California into the fiscal abyss once again.

Sources tell me that the Mayor was an uninvited guest, and while those in attendance to get out the vote were cordial, there was a healthy bit of tension during the day, and he was quite deliberately left off of of the official program when dignitaries such and Tom McClintock and Chuck Poochigian were introduced.

Mayor, you’re a great guy – but the grassroots base of the local Party isn’t too happy with you right now. Being tone deaf in an election year isn’t smart politics, especially if you have future political ambitions.… Read More

Here are a few photos from Day 1 of the McClintock crosses the state tour. Yesterday’s co-starts were Senator Chuck Poochigian and former Assemblyman Tony Strickland. Today Secretary of State Bruce McPherson will travel with us on the McClintock RV… The three candidates rally the troops!

On the RV — from left to right – Lori McClintock, Tony Strickland, Senator McClintock, Jon Fleischman.

Jon Fleischman (left) chats with Senator McClintock, Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, and Congressman George Radanovich, at the Fresno HQ. There has been a lot of media attention on the candidates on the trip… Read More