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There are rumors on the LEFT and RIGHT.

There is little doubt that McClintock would do the polling and with three moderate Republicans in the race, Tom would appeal to the California conservative base.

But, two questions:

1. Would McClintock vacate a relatively safe Northern California Congressional seat which has NO term limits and…..

2. How would McClintock raise the money to run against two mega-millionaires, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner who would run against him in the GOP primary election?

Stay tuned…..

Update:

McClintock’s office is now denying the report and blaming the Dems who continue to covet his Northern California Congressional District for a bit of opposition drill.

• Whitman: 21 percent
• Campbell: 18 percent
• Poizner: 7 percent
• Undecided: 54 percent

Here are screenshots of the poll details:

It is very early in this race and Whitman’s lead is not commanding with a whopping 54 per cent of California Republican voters undecided.

Let the campaigning begin…….

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who often utters fact-challenged pronouncements, told the simple truth about the state’s budget deficit just before the Legislature adopted billions of dollars in new taxes, spending cuts and loans to close the gap, to wit:

“Anyone that runs around, I think, and says that this can be done without raising taxes, I think has not really looked at it carefully to understand this budget or has a math problem and has to get back, as I said, and take Math 101.”

Given the hyperventilation we’ve seen in the last few days, this state must have lots of innumerate people.

Governor Schwarzenegger replaced former Democrat Governor Gray Davis via recall because of his California budget failures and increasing tax burden. Arnold has done little over the past six years except bloviate about post-partisan politics, global warming and accept every increase in spending the California Legislature delivers to him. The Governator has failed.

California needs fiscal leadership and budget reform with a specific plan – not pandering.

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former e-Bay CEO Meg Whiman, both Republican candidates for Governor should direct their energies towards solving California’s problems and leave the political hyperbolic pandering to John and Ken. Both bloviated at this weekend’s California Republican Party convention in Sacramento.

Two wealthy Silicon Valley titans courted support for their 2010 gubernatorial campaigns Saturday before riled-up party activists angry over taxes, fed up with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and distrustful of moderate candidates.

So state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner promised at a news conference that he would never raise taxes as governor.

And former eBay CEO Meg Whitman carefully explained to more than 900 state party delegates why she registered as a decline-to-state voter from 1998 to 2007 before re-registering as Republican.

She also apologized for “failing to vote on a number of occasions,” including in the 2003 recall election of Democratic Gov. Gray Davis.

“They have things to prove to party activists,” said Republican political consultant Dave Gilliard of the top two GOP contenders to replace Schwarzenegger. “They have to give some red meat to demonstrate their commitment to Republican principles. Taxes will be the litmus test.”

Time for leadership instead of “RED MEAT.” Time for a plan not a website.

What is their excuse?

Not really and as Dan Walters writes it is pretty much HOT AIR.

It’s doubtful whether anything she could do as governor would reach that goal, especially since she’d have to deal with a Legislature controlled by liberal Democrats who oppose her specific proposals. And really, do we really want rapid economic growth of those dimensions, even if it were possible? Probably not.

This state has had a boom-and-bust economy for too many years, with those cycles coming about once a decade. The defense spending boom of the 1980s, the hightech boom of the 1990s and the housing boom of this decade all went bust, leaving personal, economic and fiscal chaos in their wake. One effect was the state’s chronic budget crisis.

California desperately needs some economic equilibrium, with steady expansion to match our population growth.We need efficient infrastructure, and good education and job training programs to attract long-term investment in permanent new jobs.

The next governor should make those conditions a priority, not offer pie-in-the-sky promises that can’t – and shouldn’t – be kept.

Meg Whitman, the former CEO of e-Bay is a rookie in politics. She has never before run for office and has been a registered Republican only since 2007. In fact, she missed a number of elections as a California voter, including the Gray Davis recall election which elected current GOP Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Whitman is an accomplished business woman but her stands on the issues are very similar to moderate or RINO Schwarzenegger.

California voters six years ago took a chance with another rookie politician in Schwarzenegger and it has been a disaster – both for the California Republican Party and the California economy.

California cannot afford another rookie mistake.

Former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman officially submitted her bid to explore a run for governor on Monday.

The move by the billionaire businesswoman sets up what’s expected to be an expensive, 17-month auction between herself and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner in the 2010 Republican primary.

“California faces challenges unlike any other time in its history — a weak and faltering economy, massive job losses, and an exploding state budget deficit. California is better than this, and I refuse to stand by and watch it fail,” Whitman said in a prepared statement, announcing her exploration of a run for governor. “Now is the time for people across the state to join in a cause for change, excellence and a new California.”

Whitman, 52, first stepped onto the political stage in last year’s presidential campaign, initially as a fundraiser to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, then as a senior adviser to Republican nominee John McCain.

McCain, at one point, called Whitman one of the “three wisest people” he knew, handing her a speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

The race will be an expensive one in the June GOP primary election between Whitman and California Insurance Commissioner and fellow billionaire Steve Poizner.

Whitman has an impressive list of Republican endorsers including former California Governor and U.S. Senator Pete Wilson, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Senator John McCain. Other California co-chairs of her campaign include:

• Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Moorpark
• Rep. Mary Bono-Mack, R-Palm Springs
• Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego
• Former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster

What is interesting is that Whitman boasts conservative and moderate pro-choice Republican supporters.

Whitman wil be criticzed having just registered as a Republican in 2007 and having missed some chances to vote in recent elections. But, unlike, Caroline Kennedy, Meg’s Whitman’s REAL success in business should trump these negatives.

Here is Whitman’s introductory video:

Whitman’s website is here.