Spielberg, Katzenberg and Geffen to Endorse Jerry Brown
DreamWorks founders Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen are endorsing Jerry Brown's gubernatorial bid and will be co-hosting a fundraiser for him on Nov. 18.
"This will be a big launching pad for his campaign here," says Andy Spahn, their political consultant.
Although the 2010 election is still not on many radar screens of Hollywood donors, the endorsement of Spielberg, Katzenberg and Geffen sets the stage for a significant battle for industry support against Brown's chief rival, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Newsom has already held multiple events in Los Angeles, and will host a fund-raising reception on Monday at the Biltmore Hotel with former President Bill Clinton.
Brown announced on Tuesday that he is filing papers to form an exploratory committee for his bid, after months of speculation that he would get in the race.
Spahn said that the trio all have known Brown for various lengths of time.
"They all believe he knows the job inside and out and is the best qualified candidate to fix the mess in Sacramento," Spahn says. "He was way ahead of his time in promoting the environment and renewable energy, on bringing diversity to government, and in championing the arts."
Other co-hosts are expected to be named to the Nov. 18 event. A location and donor levels were still being worked out. The trio's endorsement had been expected. Each had already contributed this year to Brown's reelection fund for attorney general, money that can be rolled over into a gubernatorial bid.
Their endorsement is sought out by candidates not just for the money raised but the sense of momentum it can bring in the entertainment community. In 2007, when they co-hosted a fund-raiser for Barack Obama, it was viewed as a turning point in his efforts to win support in a community once assumed to be overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton.
A Newsom adviser said in response to the endorsement: "Gavin Newsom is the candidate who can bring a new direction and real reform to California. We're proud of all the support we've gathered in the entertainment industry. We look forward to their support after the primary."
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Gavin Newsom is a lightweight and his city is a mess. The homeless problem there is worse than it is in New York City. And it's looking very seedy.
Posted by: Victoria | September 30, 2009 at 06:19 PM
New York is a paradise compared to SF. Gavin's really not all to blame for this, but the reality is that Gavin only cares about Gavin. Many feel that his gay marriage effort hurt John Kerry's presidential bid. In the months before that effort, Bill and Hillary visited Gavin on more than one occasion. Kerry lost and then Hillary was poised for the WH. Now the Clintons are endorsing Gavin.
Posted by: Dogboy | September 30, 2009 at 07:16 PM
This is great news. Jerry Brown has the intelligence, gravitas and experience to tackle California's huge problems. I will work tirelessly for him as I worked to help elect Barack Obama president.
Posted by: Suleek | September 30, 2009 at 07:55 PM
Oh Goodie, goodie, goodie...
Let’s follow these hacks again just like we did with Obama. Keep your day job dudes because your Chrystal ball is as transparent as Obama's administration.
Pffft.
Posted by: Tina Ferrer | October 01, 2009 at 06:34 AM
Brown will be the next Governor of California. Geffen is the richest person in Hollywood and Spielberg is its most respected filmmaker. And Brown knows California better than any person on the planet.
Posted by: osage | October 01, 2009 at 06:50 AM
If Jerry Brown wins, I'll consider moving back to California.
Posted by: tjfxh | October 01, 2009 at 07:50 AM
Money talks. Anybody will be better than Ahnold. Let's get somebody who can play the political game, kick butt, and fix the mess.
Posted by: valleygirl | October 01, 2009 at 08:22 AM
BTW...What about Spielberg for gov? CA is just one big movie set anyway and he's got the money and the smarts.
Posted by: valleygirl | October 01, 2009 at 08:24 AM
These well intentioned but ill informed gentlemen will permit Jerry Brown to damage California's laws and court system AGAIN. Many of Gov. Jerry Brown's judicial appointees were horrendous. I know because I watched them in action. One Superior Court judge in L.A. was blanket affidavited by both the D.A. and the public defender's office, so he sat in an empty court room for months while other criminal courts were overloaded. He was then transferred to the civil court, where it took about a year for everyone to affidavit him there. Plus, some of Calif. Supreme Court Justice Rose Bird's [a Brown appointee] criminal law decisions were atrocious, e.g. her egregious opinion holding that a man who raped and stabbed a 10 year old girl for 2 hours until she died did not at any time consider the nature or gravity of his actions. Bird also ignored ample evidence of premeditation. However, we have not forgotten. Don't let them get away with this.
Posted by: benito | October 01, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Mr Feel good Brown could not run a city now much less a state he needs to crawl back under the rock he came from.California has to have a decent democrat to run against a republican.Right now in California I don't see any candidate that is worth a damn on either side,Better to just stay with Arnie at least he isn't taking pay for being governor and brown will IMO break California worse than IT IS NOW having THE SUPPORT OF BIG MONEY DOESN'T MAKE YOU A GOOD CANIDATE AND BROWN IS THE WORSE OF ALL./
Posted by: hellian | November 06, 2009 at 12:41 PM