As the various candidates for California Attorney General continue do all the behind scenes work of building their campaigns, here's a fairly high-profile endorsement that San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris has just picked up. From the San Francisco Examiner: 

They haven’t been working together too long, but police Chief George Gascon is backing District Attorney Kamala Harris for California attorney general.

In an extensive news release on Harris’ election Web site, Gascon calls Harris a “steadfast and effective partner” on the fight on crime in San Francisco.

“I believe that Kamala Harris’ ‘smart on crime’ approach, with its proven track record in San Francisco, is what California needs to get tough and smart on crime,” Gascon said in the release. Harris has also received a nod from Gascon’s former boss, former Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton.

Missing from the long list of endorsements is Mayor Gavin Newsom’s support.

Harris will also have a tough time getting an endorsement from rank-and-file officers as the powerful Police Officer’s Association has not held back in its criticism of Harris’ decision to not seek the death penalty in the murder of Officer Isaac Espinoza in 2004.

Of course, Kamala is in a tough race against such other proven winners as Assembly members Ted Lieu and Alberto Torrico and Los Angeles District Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. The primary will be held on June 8, 2010.