By: Anne Schroeder Mullins

It’s not surprising that Sen. John McCain isn’t counting on California, even after comments last February by the GOP candidate indicated the state would be “in play” and he vowed to campaign out west if named the party’s nominee. (According to Real Clear Politics’ most recent estimate, Obama now enjoys a 13 point advantage in the state and it’s expected to be a “solid” win for the Dem.) At last weekend’s GOP state party convention at the Anaheim Marriott, however, former governor Pete Wilson told the conservative crowd not to worry about Obama’s percentage point advantage, predicting McCain could still carry the state.

No matter what the statisticians predict, California has been a major money stop for the McCain campaign, yet several big fundraisers in the state were suddenly changed at the 11th hour. McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin abruptly postponed two big-dollar California events last month, but she pledges to return to the state this Saturday for a rally at a 13,000-seat arena in Carson, California. McCain himself this week stayed in Washington to vote on the Wall Street rescue plan, missing a Beverly Hills fundraiser Wednesday night that drew many of his biggest Hollywood fans. (Wife Cindy and Palin’s spouse Todd pinch hit for him at the event, which was headlined by showbiz supporters Dennis Miller and Kelsey Grammer.)

–Jeffrey Ressner

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