Basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson threw his support behind Phil Angelides for governor today in a move that heightens the visibility of the state treasurer's bid to unseat Arnold Schwarzenegger next November.
"Phil is the only qualified candidate to run the state of California," the former Laker star told about 100 supporters gathered by the popcorn stand of his Magic Theatres complex at Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles.
Angelides is vying in the June primary for the Democratic nomination to challenge Schwarzenegger, who has said he will seek another term. State Controller Steve Westly is the other announced Democratic candidate so far.
Johnson's endorsement has become one of the most coveted in local politics; in the Los Angeles mayoral race candidates competed fiercely for his support. Antonio Villaraigosa ultimately won Johnson's endorsement and featured the basketball player and entrepreneur in his cable television advertising in African American sections of the city.
Johnson said Angelides would be a governor who "serves the many, not just the few." Taking a swipe at Schwarzenegger, Johnson said the treasurer would not divide Californians "with a wasteful special election," referring to the Nov. 8 balloting in which all of the governor's initiatives were defeated.
"I love him as an actor and I love him as my friend, but I don't love him as the governor. We need a man that is qualified. We need a man that can balance the budget."
The value of Johnson's endorsement was apparent in the media attention it drew. Five television crews showed up to cover the event at a time when the campaign has drawn little public interest. Garry South, a senior strategist for Westly, said Johnson was "a great guy," but minimized the importance of his role in the governor's race.
"He's not going to determine who wins the Democratic gubernatorial primary next year," South said.
In his appearance with Johnson, Angelides made no reference to the June primary contest, focusing instead on the general election. He called Schwarzenegger a "failed governor," and said he had stood up to him on school spending.
"For that, I was labeled the anti-Schwarzenegger, and I'm proud of it," he said.
Johnson is the latest in a long line of high-profile supporters of Angelides. Among them are California's two U.S. senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Rep. Maxine Waters of Los Angeles.
Angelides, a former state Democratic chairman, has deep ties with the party establishment in California. For years, he has raised money for many of his supporters.
Johnson said that state pension funds had provided his urban housing and other commercial enterprises with more than $150 million in financing but that played no role in his support for Angelides. Much of the financing preceded Angelides' tenure as treasurer, a job that gives him a role in overseeing the pension fund. Angelides has made state support for urban redevelopment a top priority.
