Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa revealed Wolf Blitzer today that he will not run for Governor. "The answer's no. I make that decision because like I've said many times, I love the city I was born and raised in, the city my grandpa came to 100 years ago," he told Blitzer.

"Cities are on the frontlines of the challenges facing us in terms of the economic crisis," he continued. "Here in the City of LA, 12.5% unemployment rate, 21,000 people have lost their home over the last 2 years, we're facing a unprecedented and historical budget deficit of $530 million dollars. I feel compelled to complete what I started out to do. I said to Los Angeles four years ago to dream with me. i said we would take on the many challenges that we face in the city: public school and public safety, the issue of the environment. I said that we would do everything we could to come together as a city. I can't leave this city in the middle of a crisis, that's as simple as that."

Today's news comes as a bit of a shock since in a recent LA Times poll, Villaraigosa landed 38% of those polled, with former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor receiving 32% and 13%, respectively. And in SFist's casual poll, Villaraigosa garnered 19%, with Brown and Newsom taking in 50% and 31%, respectively.

Villaraigosa's departure from the race leaves ample room for Newsom or Brown to take Sacramento.

SFist asked Gavin Newsom for comment. We'll update when he responds.