Tonight, the San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee hosts a Rancho Cucamonga dinner featuring GOP political guru Karl Rove. Ticket prices range from $150 to $5,000.

Saturday, Rove will be headed to the desert for a dinner speech at the California Republican Party's three-day conference and golf tournament in Indian Wells. Donor packages run from $15,000 to $50,000.

Over in San Jacinto, supporters of Assemblyman John J. Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, will gather at Rancho de Milagro to watch a horse show and raise money for Benoit's Senate campaign.

Not to be left out, the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee will host a "Turning San Bernardino County Blue" barbecue that same evening in Rialto. Tickets start at $40 and go to $700 for "true blue sponsors."

And on Tuesday, developer Ali Sahabi will host a $1,000-per-person golf fundraiser at the Dos Lagos Golf Course in Corona for Rep. Joe Baca, D-Rialto.

—Jim Miller
jmiller@PE.com

The 48-year-old Republican volunteer got a backstage pass to hear Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speak during a recent swing through California. Blanton caught the attention of state GOP officials for her 50-hour unpaid work-weeks in the Temecula Republican Party office, and they got her the pass to see Palin before a rally last weekend in Carson.

"She just exuded self-confidence, poise," said Blanton, a Temecula resident. "As a conservative Western woman, I've never been more proud."

Blanton said she's been working hard to register new voters and train volunteers, and she credits Palin with energizing many activitists — especially the young women. Blanton said she's tired, but excited. Getting to sit just 6 feet from Palin in a room of a few dozen people just added to her energy level.

"She exemplifies what I have been doing as a Republican woman for years now," Blanton said.

—Michelle DeArmond
mdearmond@PE.com

Some are decrying the remark as racist (akin to "those people"), or at least as a sign of how agitated a down-in-the-polls McCain has become. According to Politico, a Washington politics journal and website, McCain's camp defended the line as the best of the debate.

Missed the debate? Watch the exchange yourself and decide.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

But they're still there, and they're celebrating the grand opening of their new Redlands headquarters tonight — just around the corner from the Democratic shop in downtown Redlands.

The Redlands Republican Women Federation plan to kick off their event at 5:30 p.m. at 14 N. Fifth St. tonight with Mexican food, live entertainment and political speeches. Call
909-307-3308 or 909-307-3956 for more information. Organizers say Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands; and state Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga; and Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, R-Redlands, are scheduled to attend.

Democrats have been working to register new Democrats in San Bernardino County and end Republicans' lead in the county. They have an office at 104 State St. in Redlands.

For now, the Republicans still have a 16,858-to-12,591 lead over the Democrats, according to the registrar of voters' numbers.

—Michelle DeArmond
mdearmond@PE.com

But the Web site hotpads.com puts the area's housing turmoil in sobering perspective: four of the five congressional districts that make up the majority of Inland Southern California are among the top ten in terms of forclosure rates.

According to their rankings, Reps. Joe Baca, D-Rialto, Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, Ken Calvert, R-Corona, and Jerry Lewis, all represent one of ten districts hit hardest by the crisis. That's out of 435 districts nationwide.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

A new survey shows that Obama is leading among most Asian subgroups (with the interesting exception of the Vietnamese vote, which almost always goes for the GOP candidate).

Overall, Obama leads McCain 41 percent to 24 percent among Asian likely voters, according to the survey put out by professors from four universities, including UC Riverside.

But importantly, a whopping 34 percent of Asian voters remain undecided with less than a month before Election Day. Check out the story in this morning's P-E.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

It means campaigns, or at least the well-organized ones, will drop a bunch of mail pieces in the coming days to coincide with absentee voters' deliberations. (Note to vote-by-mailers: Get your ballots in early. Dropping them off at the polls on Election Night slows the tally.)

In June, 58.7 percent of voters cast ballots by mail. It shouldn't be that high next month because of the predicted huge turnout. In June, only 22 percent of voters participated.

The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Oct. 28. To get one, Riverside County voters should go here and San Bernardino County voters should go here.

—Jim Miller
jmiller@PE.com

Long, who previously served as Riverside County schools superintendent, may have more influence as Dave Long and Associates. His new firm already has landed at least one big client: the California School Boards Association.

The consulting firm will work with CSBA on a plan to help its members as they work to close achievement gaps among various groups of students, according to an item posted on the organization's Web site.

CSBA's executive director, Scott Plotkin, set high expectations for Long, whose 40 years of experience also includes serving as superintendent of the Lake Elsinore and Banning school districts.

"His decades of experience in public education, both in California and elsewhere, will be an enormous asset as we bolster our ongoing efforts to help governance teams close the achievement gaps in California schools," Plotkin said in the article.

-- Shirin Parsavand
sparsavand@PE.com

The Chariot Research poll shows Jeandron with a 6.34 percentage lead among voters with "strong" and "somewhat" support for either Jeandron or Democrat Manuel Perez of Coachella.

The margin is much narrower, though, when respondents are asked their general party preferences for the Assembly election. In that, "strong" or "somewhat" support for a Republican candidate is only a sliver more than the Democrat.

Here's the link to the Power Point presentation. Hat tip to Jon Fleischman at the FlashReport for reporting this.

A little history: James Fisfis, the principal at Chariot Research, worked for the Assembly GOP during the last redistricting in 2001 - when the current 80th took shape.

-- Jim Miller
jmiller@PE.com

The county GOP sent out an announcement this week inviting supporters of John McCain and Sarah Palin to join the congresswoman at a debate-watching party. But Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, is busy in Washington -- something about a bailout plan.

The Republican McCain-Palin event will still take place — without Bono Mack — from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the campaign's Palm Desert office, 74390 Highway 111.

And there are plenty of other places to watch the faceoff, which will be broadcast from Washington University in St. Louis at 6 p.m. PDT. PBS' Gwen Ifill will serve as moderator for the 90-minute debate between Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a Republican.

Those who want to watch the debate with more than a few bottles of wine at their fingertips can go to the Winery at Canyon Crest in Riverside. The owners plan to play the first and only VP debate in HDTV there. There's no coverage charge.

Supporters of the Barack Obama-Joe Biden ticket will meet at the Marriott in Riverside, where about 200 turned out for last week's presidential debate. There will be food and a cash bar at 3400 Market St. The cost is $5 and people seeking more information can call Jose Medina at 909-645-3567

In Moreno Valley, Democrats plan to watch the debate during at potluck scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at 24443 Sunnymead Blvd.

In Temecula, Riverside County's GOP will hold another debate-watching party at 28120 Jefferson Ave. #205.

Democratic desert dwellers also will get together at the Point After Bar and Grill, 34331 Date Palm Drive, in Cathedral City. The doors will open at 5 p.m., and a donation of $15 is requested. Organizers ask that interested people call 760-328-9425.

And for those who want a bipartisan event, a politically mixed crowd will gather at Jerseys Pizza at 985 W. Kendall Drive in San Bernardino.

—Michelle DeArmond
mdearmond@pe.com

But that won't put a damper on the party high-rollers showing up this afternoon for the "Steinberg Golf Classic" at Bighorn, a private club.

The event, named after incoming Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, is a fundraiser for the California Democratic Party. Hosts pay $30,200, sponsors $15,100, friends $7,500, and supporters $5,000.

-- Jim Miller
jmiller@PE.com

Sanchez is headlining a fundraiser for Hedrick at the El Adobe de Capistrano Restaurant
in San Juan Capistrano on Oct. 19, just two weeks before the election. Those wanting in will have to shell out $75 a head ($125 a couple).

But, according to the invitation, "support ensuring victory" is a bit pricier ($500), and "true believers" in Hedrick are asked to pay $1,000.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

The donation brings to nearly $1.4 million what Perez' campaign has collected since June 30.

-- Jim Miller
jmiller@PE.com

The ad accuses Jeandron, of Palm Springs, of taking Democrat Manuel Perez's statements out of context and other assorted wrongdoings.

"Jeandron's negative campaign comes straight from his party's playbook," the ad says.

The ad highlights the fact that Perez is a Democrat and Jeandron is a Republican, something campaigns don't always emphasize. Democrats think their brand is the stronger one these days.

-- Jim Miller
jmiller@PE.com

An SNL alum turned up the other day in campaign-finance reports for a different race: Prop. 2. The California initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot eventually would prohibit the use of battery cages that restrict the movement of egg-laying hens.

Actress Victoria Jackson, who once vouched for the benefits of "Handi-Off" during an SNL TV commercial, gave $3,600 to initiative proponents.

"Handi-Off" was a faux product that, applied topically, allowed its users to get rid of extraneous fingers. No chickens were harmed.

—Jim Miller
jmiller@PE.com