September 15, 2009

Bill Clinton Backs Gavin Newsom’s 2010 CA Gov Bid

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Former president Bill Clinton today showed his support for San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom’s run for California governor in 2010. Next month, Clinton will travel to California to accompany Newsom to a Los Angeles event and a large-dollar fundraiser. This high-profile boosterism comes at a good time: native San Franciscan and current State Attorney General Jerry Brown, has reportedly raised twice as much campaign money as his younger opponent.

Although the backing of a former president is a novel one for California statewide primary (or so a former head of the state’s Democratic Party told ABC) it’s not hard to see why Clinton would favor Newsom. Besides the party line, Clinton ran against Brown in 1992 and Newsom was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton during the Democratic presidential primaries. Newsom told the San Francisco Chronicle the endorsement was “a big deal,” especially considering how early on in the race it is.

While Newsom has been criticized in San Francisco for the Care Not Cash homeless program and “immigration sanctuary,” it’d be hard to find a Democrat Californians like more than Bill Clinton. Basking in Clinton’s glow could only help Newsom, especially considering he polled behind Brown twice in August, even among San Franciscans.

 

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WE'LL BE BLUNT

It is astonishingly hard keeping a newsroom afloat these days, and we need to raise $253,000 in online donations quickly, by October 7.

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Readers also told us to just give it to you straight when we need to ask for your support, and seeing how matter-of-factly explaining our inner workings, our challenges and finances, can bring more of you in has been a real silver lining. So our online membership lead, Brian, lays it all out for you in his personal, insider account (that literally puts his skin in the game!) of how urgent things are right now.

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