Dick Ackerman

Indicating his seriousness in running, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has already assembled a campaign team and a long list of supporters for a potential gubernatorial bid in 2010.

In the announcement of the exploratory committee's formation, Poizner, a moderate Republican, announced that former Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga) will be his campaign chair. Brulte also served as finance chair for the California Republican Party.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at the Republican National Convention: Getty Images PhotoBLAINE, Minn. - Praise came down from many circles for the speech Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gave in accepting the Republican vice presidential nomination Wednesday night.

Turns out she might have done some of it on the fly.

State Sen. Dick Ackerman (R-Tustin) told fellow California delegates Thursday that McCain campaign adviser Steve Schmidt told him there was a problem with the teleprompter during her speech.

BLAINE, Minn. - California Republicans have a stronger chance of success when the party is unified from the governor on down, State Sen. Dick Ackerman (R-Tustin) believes.

Ackerman, a delegate attending the Republican National Convention and a former state Senate Republican leader, said some party members believe that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't do enough to help fellow GOP politicians running for statewide office in 2006.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Assemblyman Van Tran (R-Costa Mesa) said he's not concerned about attending the Republican National Convention while the state budget is unfinished, because progress has to happen with legislative leaders first.

"There's nothing happening," said Tran, who arrived in Minnesota Tuesday, of the stalled budget negotiations. "We're in a holding pattern."

Tran said the budget won't move forward unless there's serious negotiations between the state's "Big 5" politicians of the Democratic and Republican leaders in each chamber and Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.