I will be rating the candidates either first-tier, second-tier, or third-tier:
Democrats:
First Tier:
*LA Mayor Antonio Villagorossa
*Fmr. State Controller Steve Westly
Second Tier:
*Lt. Gov. John Garamendi
*Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez
*State Assembly Spkr. Fabian Nunez
Third Tier:
*Fmr. Lt. Gov., 2003 nominee, and 2006 nominee for Insurance Commisioner Cruz Bustamante
*Fmr. Treasurer and 2006 nomnee Phil Angiledes
*Fmr. Gov., Fmr. Oakland Myr., and State Attorney General Jerry Brown
Republicans:
First Tier:
*Fmr. Sec. of State Bruce McPhearson
*State Sntr., 2003 Gov. candidate, and 2006 Lt. Gov. nominee Tom McClintock
*Congressman Darrell Issa
Second Tier:
*Insurance Commisioner Steve Poizner
*Fmr. Congressman and SEC Chairman Chris Cox
*San Diego Myr. Jerry Sanders
*State Sen. Min. Ldr. Dick Ackerman
Third Tier:
*Governor's Wife Maria Shriver (though Schwarzenegger has said that she would not run, there is still speculation)
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How are you determining tiers? Because, imo, the GOP tiers are all messed up. Rep. Darrell Issa would never ever win statewide in CA so I don't see him as first tier material. Having lost Sec. State, Bruce McPherson should also, imho, be demoted.
The top tier GOP candidates, it seems to me, would be SD Mayor Jerry Sanders and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. They would still have a very tough time of it. Plus I don't really see Jerry Sanders, a somewhat lackluster mayoral candidate who benefited from a weak opponent, running for higher office.
As for the Dems, I've heard Garamendi is going to run but he's been such a frequent gubernatorial candidate, I can't take him seriously: third tier.
Don't forget Treasurer and former AG Bill Lockyer probably wants to be governor, too.
