Brown nears run for California governor

SACRAMENTO, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- California Attorney General Jerry Brown filed papers Tuesday to form a committee to explore a run for governor, an office he last held 26 years ago.

Brown, 71, was governor from 1975 to 1983. Coincidentally, if he should run and win in 2010, it would mark the second time he has succeeded a Republican Hollywood actor in the office, the first time following Ronald Reagan and this time current Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"He's taking a serious look at the race," Steven Glazer, Brown's senior political adviser, told the Contra Costa Times. "Were he to decide to run, he's probably be against a very deep-pocketed Republican opponent, so he'd want to be prepared to compete."

While not officially a candidate, the exploratory committee allows Brown to raise more money to gauge his chances of winning.

His main Democratic rival at this point would be San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who recently was endorsed by former President Bill Clinton.

The Republican field includes Meg Whitman, Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell.

Brown also has served as California's secretary of state, chairman of the state Democratic Party and mayor of Oakland. He ran for president in 1976, 1980 and 1992, and lost his bid for the U.S. Senate in 1982.