Eric Jaye

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." 

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom: Getty Images PhotoIn a move that will no doubt send tremors through the California political world - or at the very least among what is expected to be a crowded candidate field - a spokesman for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom confirmed late Friday that Democratic heavyweight strategist Nick Clemons has agreed to head the mayor's gubernatorial exploratory committee.

"That is absolutely correct," Newsom spokesman Eric Jaye told PolitickerCA.com when asked about Clemons. "We are very, very proud to have Nick joining us."

A spokesman for Gavin Newsom's gubernatorial exploratory committee said Wednesday that should the 40-year-old political wunderkind run for California's top electoral post, he will do so implementing an issues-based campaign and will avoid wading into the muck of personality politics.

Eric Jaye, an influential San Francisco-based Democratic strategist and a spokesman for the exploratory committee, said that Newsom is very aware of the deeo field of Democratic candidates he may face in the effort to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010.

Some of those folks -- a virtual pantheon of who's who in California Democratic politics -- include 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.

Should Newsom run he will also likely face down potential GOP candidates such as Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and former eBay Inc. President Meg Whitman.

"He will focus any campaign on his positions and principles," Jaye told PolitickerCA.com. "This has always been his approach and that's not going to change now."