“He would be a very serious candidate if he ran,” said Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics…

At 54, Newsom has time to choose an opportune moment to run. But it’s hard to imagine a bigger political stage than the one he’s on now as governor of America’s most populous state from which to springboard into a national campaign. He’s already demonstrated the ability to raise the vast sums needed to vie for California’s highest office, with more than $23 million on hand after spending $5 million in the primary.

“He’s got a fantastic base — 10% of the national population — and massive amounts of money available to him,” Sabato said.