Meg Whitman pegged for California bid

Meg Whitman's political aspirations are the subject of much conjecture in Silicon Valley

Former eBay president Meg Whitman may be gearing up for a run at the California governor's office.

Reports from both Bloomberg and the San José Mercury News claim that Whitman is preparing to begin her campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2010 election to replace outgoing governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Speculation on a serious run for office began last week when Whitman resigned her board positions at eBay, Dreamworks and Proctor & Gamble. Whitman was particularly active in the 2008 presidential race, campaigning for Mitt Romney and John McCain.

Whitman made her name and fortune in Silicon Valley as the guiding hand behind eBay's rise to power. As chief executive, Whitman oversaw eBay's establishment as the de facto internet auction service and a multi-billion dollar company.

Pundits have suggested that Whitman could be a particularly attractive candidate due to her vast fortune, her ties to the tech world and her status as one of the most respected businesswomen in the state.

Technology has been playing a growing role in politics, in its effects on policy issues and as a new campaign tool. The tech industry is of particular importance in California, which is home to such names as Google, Intel, HP and Oracle.

California is traditionally a Democratic stronghold in national elections, but the governor's office has been a starting point for many prominent Republicans, including presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.