"No teachers are getting laid off in San Francisco," he said, crediting in part what he called his "entrepreneurial perspective." Before entering politics, Newsom was a partner in a restaurant and winery business.
His emphasis on the economy not only dovetails with voter sentiment now -- the recession is paramount in voters' minds -- but it also serves to reintroduce Newsom to Californians who might otherwise know him only for his high-profile role in promoting gay marriages in 2004. The subject of gay marriage was introduced, obliquely, at the end of his website's announcement video.
"You know where I stand on important issues like universal healthcare, creating green collar jobs and protecting equality for all Americans," he said.
In the interview, he described himself as "not an ideologue" but said those who disagreed with his positions on issues such as gay marriage would know where he stood.
"Politicians are a dime a dozen, truly. If you're going to have someone put their finger in the air" -- to gauge popular opinion -- "you can get a computer program to do that."
A Field Poll last month showed Newsom in third place among Democrats seen as most likely to run for governor, behind Brown and Villaraigosa. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein runs well ahead of the pack but has not taken steps to enter the race.
Those seeking the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger include state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, former EBay chief Meg Whitman and former congressman and Schwarzenegger finance director Tom Campbell.
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cathleen.decker@latimes.com
