Forget about the gubernatorial election loss having been Antonio's swan song. This is what no fewer than three Villaraigosa's insiders have called to tell me since my post earlier today. They point out this indisputable fact:
Dianne Feinstein, California's senior senator who will undoubtedly win re-election in November to another six-year term, turns 85 June 22. She will be nearing 91 if she serves out that term.
Consider, too, I was told, that the next likely governor, Gavin Newsom, will have in his powers this unique state constitutional power:
"... the governor makes an appointment to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy, and the appointee serves until the next regularly-scheduled, statewide general election. The person elected at that next regularly-held general election serves for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any..." Fill in the blanks, I was told... and those blanks don't include State Senato Kevin DeLeon, Feinstein's runoff opponent in November.
