A single day after the close of the filing period for Mayor, Gavin Newsom did what establishment Democrats are supposed to do. He endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. Back when the threat of a progressive campaign loomed, Newsom considered supporting Barack Obama to deflect the challenge from the left. But with the Mayor’s race secure, Newsom looked to build his own fortunes in national political circles as an establishment Democrat.

With Clinton up 20 points in national polls (and with polls even showing her leading Iowa) Newsom jumped at the opportunity to affix his star to hers. Certainly being an early endorser of the next President could only help one with his own Presidential ambitions.

No matter that Hillary’s out of step with San Francisco voters on the big issues, especially the war in Iraq. Gavin’s never been there either. Considering Newsom’s opposition to grassroots efforts to impeach Bush and Cheney and his total lack of support for measures to call for withdrawal of troops from Iraq and military recruiters from our schools, Clinton really was the best match for him.

In the past month, Newsom really played up his role in the Clinton campaign with two trips to the Hawkeye State. Showcasing his own small town mettle, Newsom “charged from tiny middle school theater to weather-beaten Elks Club, from local bar to coffee art house, from Cedar Rapids to Fairfield to Solon, working phone parties and home gatherings, in the space of a few hours.” He even bragged about spending an hour and a half wooing one difficult Iowa voter. Funny how Newsom hasn’t been able to make it down the hall to a San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting.

Newsom and the Democratic establishment had their fortunes dashed tonight as Barack Obama’s sea of change swept through Iowa. Momentum from the win in Iowa, and a very strong speech at his victory celebration, should be enough to catapult him into the lead for the New Hampshire Primary and on to South Carolina. An Obama sweep of the first three states puts the Junior Senator from Illinois into frontrunner position going into California’s primary on Super Duper Tuesday in February. Clearly, this is not what Newsom and the rest of the Democratic establishment had in mind.

My interest was certainly piqued by John Edwards’ anti-corporate, populist message in Iowa. However, with the Democratic race now all but narrowed to a 2-person contest, it’s time to rally support for the upstart progressive against the status quo.

Sorry, Gavin. Barack Obama for President!