Dianne Feinstein

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein: Courtesy of Sen. FeinsteinSAN FRANCISCO - California's senior U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, confirmed Thursday that she is indeed considering a run for governor in 2010, further complicating an already potentially complex Democratic gubernatorial field.

Feinstein, who because of a broken ankle sat out the Democratic Convention in Denver, told The San Francisco Chronicle that her decision will be in part made on how many votes Democrats pick up in the Senate this November. The Democrats gain enough votes she may decide to stay in Washington.

DENVER -- California Democratic Party officials said Monday afternoon that a late night dessert reception that was to be hosted by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein will go on -- with Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party filling in for the senator.

The event at the Sheraton Denver -- for delegates only -- will run from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

California's two senators and new vice presidential pick U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) are no strangers to each other.

In fact, they've often worked together on legislation and such topics as opposing or endorsing judicial nominees.

Already facing little time to add items to the Nov. 4 ballot, Assembly Democrats unveiled a water bond proposal Friday morning that they believe can get needed legislative support.

Members of an Assembly working group on water said the proposal for a $9.8 billion water bond could be vetted and approved quickly enough to still make the Nov. 4 ballot, but said they also want to give it full consideration and examination before voters see it.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D): Campaign PhotoWASHINGTON, D.C. - California U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Tuesday that due to an ankle injury she will not be attending next week's Democratic National Convention in Denver to lead the Golden State's Democratic delegation:

In a brief statement, Feinstein said:

"Last Friday -- the day before the Lake Tahoe Summit -- I slipped and broke my left ankle while I was on a walk with Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher on the Meeks Bay Trail in the Tahoe forest.

My doctor has advised me not to travel in the short-term, and so, regretfully, I am unable to attend what will surely be an historic convention in Denver.

I was very much looking forward to chairing the California Delegation, and I offer my best wishes to California's delegates in this vital nomination process."

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D)SACRAMENTO - U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) wouldn't say what her plans are for 2010, but seemed more concerned with California getting a statewide water bond on the ballot for 2008 during a Tuesday press conference.

Speaking at a brief press conference after a luncheon speech to the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Feinstein said her plan for now is to run for re-election, rather than considering a run for California governor.

As Gavin Newsom mulls a bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2010, he might want to consider the track record of his predecessors: no Mayor of San Francisco has been elected Governor since James Rolph won in 1930. The last three Mayors-turned-gubernatorial candidate have lost: Dianne Feinstein lost her bid for Governor in 1990 to Pete Wilson; Joseph Alioto was defeated by Jerry Brown in the 1974 Democratic primary; George Christopher lost the 1966 GOP primary to Ronald Reagan. Alioto was the only sitting Mayor to run for Governor, although Christopher was the incumbent when he lost a bid for Lieutenant Governor in 1962, running on a ticket with unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Richard Nixon.

Would history have taken a different path if Hubert Humphrey had chosen San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto as his running mate? In late August 1968, just days before the Democratic National Convention opened in Chicago, Humphrey aides leaked the names of the leading candidates for the Vice Presidential nomination: Edmund Muskie, the Senator from Maine who was eventually picked ; Senator Fred Harris of Oklahoma; former Ambassador to France Sargent Shriver, the father of First Lady Maria Shriver; and Alioto.

In what may her first direct reaction to a recent private poll that showed her dominating the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial field in California, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said it will be a while before she makes a final decision as to whether she'll run.

Columnist George Skelton of the Los Angeles Times snagged the senator's reaction to a private poll that was taken last month showing the former mayor of San Francisco and longtime U.S. Senator to be a shoe-in in 2010, should she run.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-San Francisco) and former U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Roy) are looking good in recent gubernatorial polling, while Brent Wilkes got some bad news from a judge this week. They're among this week's Winners & Losers. | CLICK HERE