My initial reaction to the news that Gavin Newsom had dropped out of the 2010 gubernatorial race: bummed but not surprised.
Ever since we learned that that Newsom’s wife was pregnant soon after he launched his gubernatorial bid, I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Running for higher office with a newborn baby is simply an impossibility. It requires you to basically give up on the family for a year, something that Newsom was apparently unwilling to do (and kudos to him). When it comes down to it, family really does trump politics.
Let’s remember that the last major politician to run for higher office with a newborn baby was Sarah Palin!
So I’m happy for Newsom but sad for California. Newsom represented a new generation of leadership in the state; he’s a liberal; and he wasn’t completely beholden to the massive interest groups at the state level (which helps explain his dismal fundraising efforts).
Reportedly, Newsom wasn’t willing to spend the time necessary to raise the millions needed to run for governor in California. I can’t blame him — raising money by cold-calling strangers is one of the most miserable activities imaginable. It’s a great reason for public funding of state campaigns (such as they have in Maine).
Unfortunately, California is left without a progressive candidate for Governor at its most crucial time. Perhaps it is poetic justice that Jerry Brown might be the next Governor to have to tackle the mess he helped create.
