Former Congressman and Schwarzenegger finance director Tom Campbell, who is campaigning for governor, has done something that's extraordinary these days: he's answered -- in considerable detail -- questions about how he would govern the state. He did this on his own, serious policy blog. 

Campbell's a Republican (he's the one of the three leading contenders who isn't a Silicon Valley billionaire) and some will cause political problems for him in a primary. And I'd be concerned that his detailed budget prescriptions would make it more difficult for the state to do more on issues such as health care and infrastructure. But his proposals are serious and account for political realities. They smell of leadership. No other candidate -- either Democrat or Republican -- has done this, and the others ought to be embarassed about it. Campbell's answers read as though he wrote them without vetting them with a political consultant. That alone, in this day and age, qualifies as revolutionary.

Tea or coffee? It must be the former, because everyone I know is trying to read his tea leaves, especially when it comes to energy and environment policy.

Crystal balls and beverage dregs may be reliable methods of forecasting some things in our future, but when it comes to sustainability (and that's really what you mean when you say "energy/environment" or "climate" policy) look to California for a hint of where to focus your personal or corporate viewpoint in the coming months. Here are three big areas where the Golden State is leading and, I believe, the Obama Administration will gladly follow.

First, climate policy. On November 18, 2008, shortly after his election, then President-elect Obama delivered a speech to our Governors' Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles that left no doubt he will expand California's climate action plan - - and greenhouse gas reduction targets - - to the federal level. If you missed that important speech, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvG2XptIEJk

Already, a host of potential candidates are running for California's open governor's chair in 2010. But few of the candidates are offering new ideas or new thinking. The exception is Tom Campbell, the former Congressman and former Schwarzenegger finance director. Let's hope he manages to get a hearing in a Republican field that could include two billionaires -- insurance commissioner Steve Poizner and former eBay head Meg Whitman.

Here's how desperate California Republicans have become about their lack of good, experienced gubernatorial candidates to succeed Schwarzenegger when he's termed out in 2010: the news that Mitt Romney has bought what appears to be a vacation home in La Jolla is creating buzz in GOP circles. Could he run for governor in 2010? Don't bet on it. Romney already has lived through the torture of four years as a Republican governing a blue state. The compromises he had to make during his time as Massachusetts governor undermined his presidential campaign. Why would he put himself through that again?