Today is decision day for a number of potential candidates. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass is set to make her congressional run official, as the woman she hopes to replace, Rep. Diane Watson, joins her at a Los Angeles news conference to back Bass's candidacy.
Meanwhile, Dianne Feinstein officially said no -- again -- to running for California governor dashing the hopes of every political consultant who has not been hired by Jerry Brown.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is taking a little bit more time in the limelight to mull over his bid for lieutenant governor. And Matier and Ross report Gavin's got a posse.
"Nothing official yet, but San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
is putting together a campaign team for a possible
run for lieutenant
governor and will probably submit a ballot statement
today to go in the
state voter guide.
"Expected onboard the new effort: Sacramento consultant Jason Kinney, Internet organizer Theo Yedinksy and former mayoral spokesman Peter Ragone." Meg Whitman's camapign blasted the a new radio ad attacking her Tuesday, saying Democrats were trying to influence the Republican
primary race.
" "The ad, and where
it was placed -- stations that cater to conservative listeners --
convinced Whitman's campaign that Brown's supporters
are trying to pick
sides in the GOP primary. "Clearly, there is a focus on
Republicans as they purchased stations with the following
programming:
Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, and Glenn
Beck," said an
analysis by Whitman consultant Kyle Roberts, of Smart
Media Group. "Any
savvy media observer would conclude this campaign is
designed to target
and persuade Republicans during their primary election." The group, whihc is pledging to spend millions, still
hasn't reported any incoming funds to the secretary
of state's office, though they are opening up their
San Francisco war room to reporters today and unveiling
another radio spot. The ad did force Whitman to play a little defense Tuesday.
The AP's Juliet Williams reports the former EBay CEO
defended her campaign strategy at a Tuesday speech in the Bay Area. The Republican
candidate responded to questions about her spending
as an independent
Democratic group prepares to launch a media offensive
against her. "What
I'm trying to do is run a smart, strategic campaign.
We're trying to
get our message out," she told The Associated Press
before giving an
evening speech to the Commonwealth Club in the eastern
San Francisco
Bay area suburb of Lafayette. "Californians will have
to decide who
they want to run this state." Speaking of Jerry Brown, today's the last day for him
to make his candidacy official if he wants to submit
a ballot statement for the June election. But since
Brown has no primary challenger, he may well wait until
closer to the March 12 filing deadline to make his candidacy official. The suspense is killing us. Really. If anybody still cares about governing, the Senate budget committee did pass some legislation
Tuesday. Kevin Yamamura has details. "The
Senate Budget Committee on Tuesday approved rollbacks
of two corporate
tax breaks as part of a complex gas-tax swap to help close the state's
$19.9 billion deficit. The
committee also approved a 4.8 percent surcharge on residential and
commercial property insurance to generate roughly $200 million for the
2010-11 general fund. All told, the Democratic budget plan would reduce the
deficit by $5.3
billion, but most savings would come in the next fiscal
year starting
in July." And finally, today is the first day of Lent, and some
bishops are urging Catholics to give up their ... iPods?
"British church leaders are encouraging people to give
up their iPods for Lent, instead of more traditional vices such as chocolate,
to help save the planet.
"The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, and the Bishop of Liverpool
James Jones, are among those calling for a carbon fast for Lent
-- a period ahead of Easter which Christians traditionally consider a time of
penance and reflection -- which begins on Wednesday. "As well as spending a day without using technology
such as mobile
phones or iPods, the 46 daily suggestions also include eating by
candlelight, cutting meat and vegetables thinner so
they cook faster
and flushing the toilet less often."