Gavin Newsom For CA Gov?

SF Mayor Gavin Newsom is plotting a run for the governorship of California.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom who gained international notoriety when he issued marriage licenses for same-sex couples in 2004 is reportedly considering a run for governor in 2010. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Newsom has been meeting quietly over the past few months with Democratic strategists.

"A number of people in the last few months have reached out and talked to me about it," he told the paper when asked directly if he would run. "It's premature to talk about it in the open," Newsom told the Chronicle. "In the next few months we'll see what happens."

Nevertheless, the paper says the mayor is already acting as though he has made up his mind with speaking engagements outside the city on wide-ranging topics such as the environment. He also has penned a number of op-ed pieces for the left-leaning Daily Kos blog. In addition he has recently been aligning himself with big labor groups and other traditional Democratic supporters.

If he does seek the 2010 Democratic nomination Newsome is likely to be opposed by Calif. Attorney General and former Gov. Jerry Brown, former state Controller Steve Westly and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Some continue to blame Newsom for handing the right a victory in 2004 by raising the gay marriage issue to a level of visibility previously unseen.