Gov. Moonbeam 2.0?

I can't call it a comeback because Jerry Brown never really left the scene. Since leaving the Governor's office in 1982 Brown has been involved in California politics off and on for the past three decades. Now it looks like he's is a strong bet to succeed Arnold and become the next Governor of California. I also hear he has his sights on the 2012 Presidential election.

From The American Prospect...

If the 2010 election for governor of California were held this year, Brown would win. Easy. As of this writing, he leads in all the polls, both in the Democratic primary (against San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, whose campaign is leaking staff and money) and in possible general-election matchups.

Steve Maviglio, a Democratic operative who worked for Gov. Davis and the last two speakers of the Assembly, thinks the party should find another candidate: "California needs new leadership, not recycled leadership." But there don't appear to be politically viable alternatives. Newsom may be in the race to stay, but polls show him trailing even in his hometown of San Francisco. Several Democrats have asked the state Treasurer Bill Lockyer, a longtime legislator who was Brown's predecessor as attorney general, to make a run. Lockyer says he won't. One reason: Being governor shortens your life, and Lockyer, 68, has a 6-year-old son. "The other reason is very practical," Lockyer says. "I don't see how anyone, including me, gets by Jerry Brown in a primary."

A few years ago when Brown was mayor of Oakland, I was surprised to look up and see him sitting across from me on BART. He seemed nice enough but nice doesn't necessarily make for a good politician...we'll just have to see how the next year goes.