Newsom gubernatorial exploratory committee confirms super strategist Garry South joining team

SAN FRANCISCO - Famed California political strategist Garry South has joined Mayor Gavin Newsom's 2010 gubernatorial exploratory committee, a spokesman for the committee announced this morning.

South is largely credited for helping former Gov. Gray Davis win election to the state's top electoral post in 1998 and for his re-election four years later.

"Gavin Newsom is the most interesting and intelligent new face in California politics since I moved here in 1991 -- and maybe in the last three decades," South said in a statement. "He is bold and fearless and does big things. I'm delighted to bring my gubernatorial campaign experience to his race for governor." 

Exploratory committee Campaign Director Eric Jaye also announced that the committee has retained influential political polling firm, Benenson Strategy Group, and its principals Joel Benenson, chief pollster for U.S. Senator and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Peter Brodnitz, named "Pollster of the Year," by the American Association of Political Consultants in 2006, will join the exploratory effort.

BSG has offices in Washington, D.C. and New York.

Also joining the effort is Paige Barry who will serve as finance director. She served as finance director of Newsom's successful 2007 re-election campaign.

In July, PolitickerCA.com was first to confirm that Nick Clemons, former New Hampshire state director for Hillary Clinton joined Newsom's committee as day-to-day campaign manager.

News of South's possible connections to Newsom broke earlier this month when he was captured on video by a Los Angeles-based blogger chatting with the mayor outside of a Malibu Starbucks.

"This is just the beginning of our efforts to recruit the best policy, research and political minds in America," Jaye said of the committee's recent recruiting efforts.

Should Newsom run to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010, he is expected to face a crowded Democratic field, including Attorney General and former Governor Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, Controller Steve Westly, state Supt. of Instruction Jack O'Connell, Treasurer Bill Lockyer and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Washington, D.C.-based Politicker.com reporter Alex Isenstadt contributed to this report.