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That's the question political pros have been posing for months to U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and thus far there's been no response. But she appears to be inching towards a decision on whether she'll run for governor, and an announcement could come within the next few weeks. If she runs, she likely will pre-empt the Democratic hopefuls, and next year's general election almost certainly will be a contest between her and the Republican frontrunner, Attorney General Dan Lungren.

Earlier this year, Feinstein indicated she would reach her decision by spring, then by summer, then by late summer. Summer ended more than a month ago and still she has given no real indication that she wants the job. While she hesitates, her major foes -- Democrat and Republican alike -- have been busy campaigning: Lungren already is in nearly a full-bore campaign mode and Lt. Gov. Gray Davis, who has raised a $4 million campaign war chest, is busy stumping the state.

Feinstein is a proven fundraiser and a veteran of tough campaigns. If she runs for governor next year, it will be her fourth statewide race since 1990, when she narrowly lost to Republican Pete Wilson. But even if, under the still-uncertain political landscape of Proposition 208, Feinstein is able to raise sufficient funds despite a tardy entrance into the race, she may face organizational problems.

Lungren's campaign staff is well-organized and honed; Davis, likewise. But Feinstein's continued delay is injecting uncertainty in Democratic ranks, in part because many Democrats would like to see former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta enter the race. But Panetta has indicated he won't do anything until Feinstein decides, so the longer Feinstein waits, the more Panetta loses ground. Without doubt, the delay hurts Panetta the most, because he has next to no fundraising base in the state and raising money for a political campaign is a long, arduous process.

Moreover, Feinstein's campaigns have not been run smoothly. In one race, veteran San Francisco political consultant Clinton Reilly, her top strategist, actually fired her as his client, announcing his dissatisfaction in a press release that he faxed to reporters. The longer she waits to announce for next year's race, the harder it may be for her to put together a well-oiled campaign staff.

And even if she runs, will she win?

An early Field Poll shows her the clear favorite over Davis, and an easy victor over Lungren in November 1998. But early polls are notoriously dicey, largely because voters have not yet focused on an election more than a year in the future. And much can happen between now and election day.