Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa took himself out of the race for governor of California Monday, telling a national television audience that he wants to concentrate, instead, on solving his city's problems.

"I can't leave this city in the middle of a crisis," Villaraigosa, who is about to begin his second mayoral term, told CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer.

"I love the city I was born and raised in," Villaraigosa said, citing Los Angeles' high employment rate and other issues.

"I've been making up mind for a long time," the mayor added.

Villaraigosa's popularity has taken a beating, in part because of an affair with a television anchorwoman that broke up his marriage. A new Los Angeles Times poll indicated that Los Angeles residents don't want him to run for governor.

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