Steve Westly

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom‘s move to open an exploratory committee to run for California governor in 2010 suggests a long, expensive and unpredictable campaign, according to experts who follow elections and campaign finance.

One of those experts said Newsom's announcement does have a financial calculation.

By going first, Newsom can rally donors and scare off other potential candidates, said Mark Petracca, chair of the political science department at the University of California, Irvine.

While San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom may have gotten in front of the pack in announcing a first step toward running for California governor in 2010, he's to some extent far behind in raising cash for that venture.

Several other rumored and presumed candidates have been stockpiling campaign cash for several months, though the titles of their campaign accounts are just nebulous enough to allow them to change plans.

California’s next gubernatorial election is more than 31 months away, but a national Democratic organization already sees the now-Republican seat as a prime target in 2010.

“California is certainly one to look at,” said Nathan Daschle, the executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, an independent, Washington-based organization devoted to supporting Democratic gubernatorial incumbents and nominees across the country. “That’s a seat I can see going our way.”

Former State Controller Steve Westly might run for Governor in 2010: Getty Images Photo
Former Democratic State Controller Steve Westly confirmed he was mulling a bid for governor in 2010, he told PolitickerCA.com today. He said he would not be dissuaded from running if Attorney General and former Governor Jerry Brown entered the race.

“I think both Jerry and I have advantages other candidates don’t,” Westly said, adding that he and brown had high name recognition in the state and had shown an ability to raise large amounts of money.