Dan Morain of the Los Angeles Times writes today that the 2006 election is proving to be a boon for independent expenditure committees, especially as the campaign cycle draws to a close. Morain reports that four Southern California Native American tribes recently formed an independent expenditure committee funded with $3.1 million to support candidates who favor expansion of Indian casinos. Morain writes, “Political consultants believe that the tribes are about to spend additional sums on behalf of Tony Strickland, the Republican nominee for state controller, and Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), who is running for lieutenant governor. Both candidates have voted with the tribes in the past.” Another independent expenditure committee is reportedly being formed to assist the struggling campaign of Chuck Poochigian for attorney general.

Our Hot Topics pages list major contributors to all of the 13 qualified measures on the November ballot, including independent expenditure committees.

In a fairly significant coup for the Democratic candidate, the right-leaning San Diego Union-Tribune has endorsed Jerry Brown for attorney general. The paper seems as surprised by its own endorsement as most anybody else would be:

Twenty years ago, it would have been hard to imagine this editorial page endorsing Democrat Jerry Brown for statewide office. His two terms as governor, 1975-1983, were more notable for quirkiness and liberalism than substantive achievements. But if all one were to know of Brown was his record the past eight years as Oakland mayor, he would seem the model of a pragmatic, capable centrist – someone who sees economic revitalization, not government programs, as key to his city’s quality of life; an advocate of charter schools and more aggressive policing; and a frequent foe of public employee unions.

By contrast, the background of his Republican opponent – state Sen. Chuck Poochigian – is uninspiring. It is one thing to be a successful attorney in Fresno private practice, or a fairly effective legislator. It is another to be a strong leader of the Attorney General’s Office …

The Union-Tribune also endorsed State Senator Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) for lieutenant governor over John Garamendi.