Whitman Promises Two Million California Jobs by 2015

Likely GOP California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman promised to create two million private-sector jobs in California within the first five years if she is elected in 2010.

The former eBay chief executive said she would use her business experience to find ways to reform state regulations, cut taxes and realign government spending with what she believes should be the state’s priorities, such as education.

The 52-year-old announced last week that she was forming an exploratory committee to seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2010.

Whitman blasted a compromise plan to close California’s $42 billion budget deficit, which has been stalled by political gridlock in the state Legislature all weekend.

After leaving eBay last year, Whitman was an economic adviser first to Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, then for GOP presidential nominee John McCain.