The latest on the Angelides IE campaign

This weekend, there have been several new developments in the pro-Angelides independent expenditure campaign. The first is the backers have been revealed and how much they have invested has become public. As has been expected, the major funding is provided by Angelo Tsakopoulos and his daughter Eleni Tsakopoulos. The elder Tsakopoulos chipped in $3.75 million and Eleni another $1.25 million. The California Professional Firefighters tossed in another $11,000. The Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) and the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association also have signed on to the campaign, but haven't donated any money. The overall size of the ad buy is $5 million. As Bill Bradley points out, that money will not go as far as candidate spent funds. That's because federal regulations put a cap on the price television stations can charge directly to campaigns. No such limits exist for independent expenitures. And because the Tsakopoulos buy has come in late, they are likely to pay a premium for ad placement. The ads are set to begin running on Sunday. The ad itself is a positive spot. It features firefighters and police officers, with a siren soundtrack playing in the backdrop. The ad describes Angelides as the "only" candidate to have stood up for them, the Sacramento Bee reported today. Another interesting development is the past campaign work of the assistant treasurer of the independent expenditure campaign. On Friday, the Westly campaign sent out a missive that Vona L. Copp, the IE assistant treasurer, had previously worked as treasurer for “Rescue California – Recall Gray Davis” committee. She also has worked as treasurer for U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren, and Assemblymembers Chuck Devore, Guy Houston and Alan Nakanishi. "Now, why would supposed big Democrats like the Tsakopouloses hire the former treasurer of the committee that funded the recall of Democratic Gov. Davis as an official of their own “independent” expenditure committee?," asked Garry South. The real question is whether anyone in the general public will care about any of this...or whether they will simply see the ads on TV.