Meg Whitman is digging into her deep pockets to help a California ballot measure and state Republicans, fueling speculation the billionaire former CEO of eBay is positioning herself to run for governor in 2010.
Over the weekend, Whitman donated $200,000 to the campaign for Proposition 11, the redistricting initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and an array of groups seeking to change government.
It is the first ballot donation that Whitman, a Republican, has made in at least eight years, according to campaign finance records.
But it likely won't be her last, said Jeff Randle, a Republican strategist who has been advising Whitman for more than a year as she ponders a run for governor.
Whitman has pledged $150,000 to the California Republican Party. And she has recently offered to help GOP legislative leaders raise money for targeted races, said Randle.
Such cozying up to the political establishment is typical of candidates positioning themselves to run for office.
"You can speculate forever about the motivation for her contributions," said Republican political strategist Dan Schnur. "But the ramifications are that she's becoming much better positioned to run for statewide office should she choose to do so."
For much of the year, the capital's chattering class has bandied about Whitman's name as a possible successor when Schwarzenegger terms out of office in 2011.
As a senior adviser to Sen. John McCain's presidential bid (McCain mentioned her as a possible U.S. treasury secretary in Tuesday's debate), Whitman has said speculation about her future before the presidential election is premature.
Then again, she has done little to discourage such talk.
She nabbed a speaking role at the Republican National Convention, and McCain has described her as one of the "three wisest people" he would turn to as president.
Whitman shifted from the world of business to GOP politics in 2007, signing on as a fundraiser for the presidential campaign of Republican former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.
McCain recruited her to join his campaign, after Romney bowed out.
At last month's state GOP convention, Romney hinted at Whitman's political future in the Golden State.
"I don't think he'll get a chance to listen to her," he said of McCain, "because you need her here in California."
Whitman describes herself as a social moderate and fiscal conservative, much like Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, who made public his own intentions to seek the Republican gubernatorial nomination last month.
Poizner is a multimillionaire himself, and has spent more than $24 million to launch his political career, including giving generously to ballot campaigns and the state party.
What would a primary showdown between the two mega-rich candidates look like?
"Expensive," said Schnur.
Former GOP Rep. Tom Campbell, who briefly served as Schwarzenegger's budget director, is also exploring a run for governor.
Announced Democratic candidates include Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Others, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Attorney General Jerry Brown, state schools chief Jack O'Connell and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, are eyeing the race.
Call Shane Goldmacher, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5544.
