Clinton Endorsement Indicates Gavin Newsom Not Dropping Out of Race for Governor

Categories: Politics
Newsom_sm.jpg
Gavin Newsom, F.O.B.*
After recent polls showed Gavin Newsom getting clobbered by Jerry Brown even among San Francisco voters, political insiders began wagering when Newsom would gracefully pull the plug on his gubernatorial bid. One reasonable guess making the rounds: Newsom would call it quits after his new baby was born later this month saying he needed to focus on fatherhood.

But the announcement that Bill Clinton is endorsing Newsom for governor changes all that. The Clinton endorsement "certainly will quiet the speculation," predicts Corey Cook, a professor of political science at the University of San Francisco.

Cook says endorsements do matter: 2006 guv candidate Phil Angelides won the Democratic primary against rich-guy Steve Westly thanks in great part to the backing of labor and Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Speaking of Feinstein, the popular senator still has yet to take sides in the race. But she and Newsom are close (the mayor describes her as a mentor) and if she endorsed Gavin -- well, that would totally wash the loser stink off of him.

*"Friend of Bill"

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