Is Republican billionaire Meg Whitman planning a political comeback?
California Republican Meg Whitman's failed $150 million-plus drive to become California governor is barely in the rear view mirror -- but her appearance in San Francisco today, the first public gig since the 2010 election, has sparked buzz that she's thinking about a political comeback.
It started when the former eBay CEO scheduled -- not one, but two -- speaking engagements this month, less than 12 weeks from her November election rout by Democrat Jerry Brown.
Whitman will make her debut today at the Harvard Club of San Francisco in a 1 p.m. talk. And like her slated January 31 appearance in San Francisco before the Bay Area Council, which Comrade Joe Garofoli revealed this week, there will be no press coverage allowed -- and an invitation-only crowd. (And just to make sure, the Bay Area Council event has even been removed from the organization's website.)
The Harvard Club of SF appearance is especially exclusive -- open only to young Harvard undergraduate women who graduated from '05-'10, and limited to an audience of just 20. (The $50 tickets have sold out, the website says.)
Rob Stutzman, who served as Whitman's senior advisor in the 2010 campaign, insists the former eBay CEO has no political purpose in the schedule.
"These are just personal appearances connected to requests that came from friends,'' he told us. "Meg is talking to women in business,'' and that's something she's been doing for her entire professional life, he noted.
But is she planning ahead for something else in politics?
"Nothing to announce,'' he said.
Still, on a week in which Whitman's 2010 political team leaders, and even the candidate herself, have declined a prestigious invite from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies to participate in an academic discussion on the 2010 election, there are more questions about what lies ahead for Whitman.
"What she's trying to figure out is what is an appropriate public role for her,'' suggests Hoover Institution research fellow Bill Whalen. "Even though she did lose the election, she was the Republican gubernatorial nominee, and she spent the better part of two years talking about the problems facing California."
"You don't just walk away from that cold turkey,'' Whalen said. "She is probably thinking what does she do next: does she want to be a candidate -- or a speaker?"
Sources say Whitman in the last months has sought a detailed explanation regarding what went wrong in her resounding defeat by Brown. (Especially since, even hours before polls closed, her chief strategist Mike Murphy was on cable TV insisting she was still well within striking distance.)
As one of America's wealthiest women, several in the know suggest she aims to emerge again with a message and a profile on the California politics scene. And fairly soon.
Whalen speculates the GOP billionaire's best move could be as a deep-pocketed backer of ballot measures which could drive the GOP agenda. "Unlike having to run a $150 million campaign and being the star, she could be one of several people involved, give $10 million -- and get an idea passed,'' he said. "It's image rehabilitation.''
But some say other things could be in the cards -- say, a U.S. Senate run.
At least one political consultant said that Whitman's "no media" policy at the two events this month may only remind Californians of some less-than-positive recurring themes in her campaign.
Like this golden oldie Chronicle/SFGate.com Shaky Hand Productions capture of what became a famed media moment, a March 2010 meltdown in Oakland:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid823619053?bctid=71033600001Whitman's re-emergence may be "a perfect opportunity to begin the rehab process,'' says Sacramento consultant Patrick Dorinson, who writes the CowboyLibertarian.com blog. "But the media will be part of it..and she can have a real conversation with people about, "Boy did I stub my toe when I spent that $150 million."
"Politics is like breaking horses,'' he says. "She can get thrown, but Americans will want to see how she gets back up.''