Blogger Comment: Privately, the Mayor told his closest confidantes he knew he was in trouble.

SOMEONE POSTED THIS AS A COMMENT ON MAYOR SAM'S BLOG. IT LOOKS LIKE A NEWS ARTICLE FROM SOMEWHERE? ANYONE KNOW WHERE THIS IS FROM? ONLY ERROR...It SHOULD say, "Zuma Dogg has been sporting...and EVEN Zev/Magic/Rick's names are being mentioned." (They put the word "even" in front of the the front-runner???

"Privately, the Mayor told his closest confidantes he knew he was in trouble.

A growing dissatisfaction with declining City services, the local economy and a laundry list of other factors conspire to torpedo his chances for re-election. His well publicized affair with a local Spanish language television reporter hurt his image amongst his Democratic yet conservative, Catholic Latino base.

Though no candidate has yet to challenge the Mayor officially insiders are privately discussing and internet sites are touting potential candidacies of County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, NBA legend turned business magnate Earvin "Magic" Johnson and retail center developer and former Police Commission member Rick Caruso. Even gadfly Zuma Dogg, a performance artist and regular City Hall fixture, is sporting "Zuma Dogg for Mayor" t-shirts.

The Mayor recognizes his vulnerability and the potential of a defeat. His strategy is to get out and raise large amounts of campaign contributions early while an army of eager young aides, supporters and sycophants do whatever they can to twist arms and short circuit support for any potential challengers."

[Even though they said, "even" Zuma Dogg..., they DID feel it needed to be mentioned, y'all...hell yeah!)