CA Gov Race Begins

[Lunar]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/

Thought the campaigning was over? Think again. The battle to head the country's most populous state has already begun, with several candidates taking first steps toward replacing term-limited California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Steve Poizner, the Golden State's first-term insurance commissioner, has been the most prominent candidate for governor so far. The Republican formed an exploratory committee in September and is the early front-runner on his side of the aisle. Former Republican Congressman Tom Campbell has also set up an initial committee, while businesswoman Meg Whitman has hired former John McCain chief strategist Steve Schmidt for her own possible run, the Los Angeles Times reported today.

On the Democratic side, Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom have formed early committees. It would be Garamendi's third run for governor since 1982, while Newsom would position himself as the champion of the left in his first bid for statewide office. Former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown has told friends he wants the job back, the Times reports, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa -- who is expected to cruise to re-election in March -- is also said to be contemplating a bid.

The candidate the Times calls the "wild card" is Dianne Feinstein, the 75-year old former San Francisco mayor who is thinking about a second run for her state's top job after losing her first run for the post in 1990. Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee, would have to give up a prominent position in Washington for the top post in Sacramento. Feinstein's Senate seat isn't up until 2012.

Feinstein isn't the only member of Congress contemplating a bid. Way back in 2005, Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez opened her own exploratory committee for governor.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

I like Loretta Sanchez. But I'm sure the CA Dems will end up going for the most boring, uninspired candidate possible.

[cannonia]

Poizner is a non-entity.

It's interesting that Loretta Sanchez is running.  Can anyone down south describe her positions?  I've heard she pretends to be moderate.

[BM]

Dianne Feinstein is poised to become the first ever female chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.  She'd have to leave that position to make a serious bid for governor, which decreases the odds in my opinion.

[Lief 🗽]

What? How is one supposed to pick between Jerry Brown, Gavin Newsom, and Antonio Villaraigosa? Gah.

[Lunar]

What? How is one supposed to pick between Jerry Brown, Gavin Newsom, and Antonio Villaraigosa? Gah.

Electability?

[Lief 🗽]

What? How is one supposed to pick between Jerry Brown, Gavin Newsom, and Antonio Villaraigosa? Gah.

Electability?

They're Democrats. It's California.

[© tweed]

Brown would be a chill story, and I'd like to be able to sing "California Uber Alles" with greater relevance again, so perhaps him.  although Newsom is quite handsome, as is his 22-year-old girlfriend.

[Lunar]

What? How is one supposed to pick between Jerry Brown, Gavin Newsom, and Antonio Villaraigosa? Gah.

Electability?

They're Democrats. It's California.

What happened with Ahnuld vs. Our Lt. Governor then?  Newsom would have a hard time. 

Newsom could even lose some AA support if he made his #1 issue gay marriage, which is likely.

[Nutmeg]

Among those, I like Poinzer, Garamendi, Brown, Feinstein, and Sanchez; voted for Sanchez.  I'd never vote for an adulterer in a race against a faithful spouse or single person.

[Bacon King]

Gavin Newsom!

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

My take

Poinzer: Kind of moderate
Campbell: Rather libertarian
Whitman: One of the biggest haters of American workers
Garamendi: Could be a good governor
Newsom: Might not be so electable
Brown: I think the governorship is his, if he wants it. He'd be double the age when he first became governor.
Villaraigosa: Not sure
Feinstein: I don't like her. She lost the 1990 governor race.
Sanchez: Not sure. Her sister is the more liberal one.

[phk]

Poizner or Campbell

[Хahar 🤔]

I support Brown.

[SPC]

I would support Tom Campbell or the Libertarian candidate. I voted Poizner in the poll because I thought it was who do you think will win.

[Lunar]

I would support Tom Campbell or the Libertarian candidate. I voted Poizner in the poll because I thought it was who do you think will win.

The poll was whatever you make of it, just a question mark to promote discussion.  A bit early to predict the end winner before the primaries have started though.

[SPC]

I would support Tom Campbell or the Libertarian candidate. I voted Poizner in the poll because I thought it was who do you think will win.

The poll was whatever you make of it, just a question mark to promote discussion.  A bit early to predict the end winner before the primaries have started though.

Where's Steve Westly in the poll? I would think he's considering another run after he lost so narrowly last time.

[Lunar]

Well, the common theme among the poll options is that they were all mentioned in the topic article.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I would like Whitman, though Poizner & Feinstein would be decent too.

[Ronnie]

I actually like Loretta Sanchez, and think she has been a great congresswoman.  Out of these, though, I would probably vote for Whitman or Poizner.

[HappyWarrior]

Gavin Newsom 2010!  Endorsed!

[© tweed]

why would anyone oppose Newsom?



who wouldn't want to see a whole lot more of those two?

[© tweed]

why would anyone oppose Newsom?



who wouldn't want to see a whole lot more of those two?

never mind they broke up

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

With newson's endorsement of Prop 8, he will have significant support in the upcoming election.

[Lunar]

why would anyone oppose Newsom?



who wouldn't want to see a whole lot more of those two?

Wikipedia says these two are together:


never mind they broke up