Abel Maldonado

Independent expenditures in several closely contested state legislative races will get a close eye from the California Fair Political Practices Commission between now and Nov. 4

The commission will post online a daily tally of how much independent expenditure committees are spending in those races, and who's contributing to those committees.

Potential gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman got a big soapbox this week at the RNC, while U.S. Sen. Feinstein's talk of her own potential run is not welcome news to Mayor Gavin Newsom, so they're among this week's Winners & Losers.| CLICK HERE

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -California Republicans have uniformly said this week that they're focused for now on helping U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) win the presidency with the state's help.

But that's not to say that the delegation attending this week's Republican National Convention isn't also looking both internally and ahead, for the top up-and-coming party members who could someday be the party's representative in the governor's house or the U.S. Senate.

When asked, here are some of the names party insiders mention as possible future GOP stalwarts from California:

State Sen. Abel Maldonado speaks at the Republican National Convention: Getty Images PhotoST. PAUL, Minn. - State Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) suggested that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama (D-Ill.) spend more time working with his hands and less time in a government office when it comes to truly understanding economics.

Speaking at the Republican National Convention, Maldonado described how his father's strawberry farm prospered through hard work, savings and other factors he suggested Obama has left out of his economic plan.

Below is a transcript of remarks made by state Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) at the Republican National Convention Wednesday evening, as prepared for delivery.

State Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) is scheduled to address the Republican National Convention in St. Paul on Wednesday evening between 4 and 5 p.m. (PST), while Palo Alto resident and top advisor to U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) Carly Fiorina will speak between 5 and 6 p.m.

Presumptive vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) is scheduled to accept the vice presidential nomination and address the convention between 7 and 8 p.m.

The Republican National Convention announced an additional round of speakers today -- including two Californians -- for next week's convention in St. Paul.

Despite not having any Democratic general election opponent - or, for that matter, leftover bills from a bruising primary - State Sen. Abel Maldonado is still collecting thousands in campaign contributions.

Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) reported $8,000 in donations late last week, though he's running for a second term against only third-party competition.

State Sen. Abel Maldonado will have a November challenger in the 15th State Senate District after all.

Independent Jim Fitzgerald, a retired UPS employee from Nipomo, has qualified for the Nov. 4 ballot to challenge Maldonado (R-Santa Maria).