SAN FRANCISCO — Former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman, 52, a billionaire Republican businesswoman, is looking to tackle the considerable financial problems of the Golden State: She has announced an exploratory committee to make a 2010 run for governor.
Whitman’s action begins what is expected to be a crowded and expensive contest, highlighted by the presence of three GOP moderates from the Silicon Valley: Whitman; state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, who made millions in cellphone technology; and former Rep. Tom Campbell of San Jose.
Democrats already lining up include state Attorney General Jerry Brown, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Orange County. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is considering a run, and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein last week refused to count herself out.
