GOP strategist likes Newsom's chances in potentially crowded Democratic field

With San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's not entirely unexpected announcement late Tuesday that he is interested in running for governor of the Golden State in 2010, the pundits are lining up to provide their two-cents on his chances.

Dan Schnur, a Republican media strategist not affiliated with any potential candidate, told the Associated Press on Wednesday that Newsom and former governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown will be the obvious, first-out-of-the-gate contenders in a crowded Democratic primary field. That said, he thinks Newsom will come out on top.

"The conventional wisdom is that the same-sex marriage issue is a double-edged sword for Newsom, but I'd argue that it makes him the most likely Democratic nominee," Schnur said. "An issue like this in the Democratic primary gives him an ability to break out of the pack."

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