Newsom Likely to Be the Next GovernorPaul Hogarthbyline‚ May. 19‚ 2008Last week’s Supreme Court decision on marriage equality was a huge victory for Mayor Gavin Newsom. Beyond vindicating his move in February 2004, it also solidified his front-runner status for the Governor’s race in 2010. California voters increasingly support marriage equality, and the right-wing anti-gay initiative on the November ballot now gives Newsom the opportunity to wage a statewide campaign. Unlike in the 1990’s, Democrats reward politicians who stand on principle – and by June 2010 will view Newsom as one who did the right thing when it was not popular. Newsom’s potential rivals – Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Attorney General Jerry Brown – cannot lay such a claim, and will be “old news” by the time 2010 rolls around. |