“Industry observers have whispered that McClatchy and MediaNews deal … [for] the California papers was done, or close to done, early on,” writes blogger Ken Doctor (pictured), a 21-year veteran of Knight Ridder whose last job with the company was as vice president for editorial in KR Digital. Those California papers would include the San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times, Palo Alto Daily News group and Monterey Herald, and when combined with Singleton’s eight Bay Area dailies, would give Singleton a daily circulation of 800,000 in the Bay Area, almost twice that of the Chronicle. Doctor says that if billionaire Ron Burkle gets any of KR’s papers, it will be those offered in a second round, after Singleton has purchased what he wants. [Silicon Valley Biz Journal: Advertisers hope to get a break in Merc sale] [E&P: Brokers convinced 12 abandoned KR papers will find buyers]