Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman considers politics

ATHERTON, Calif. -- Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman helped build the online auctioneer into an American icon and transform the way individuals do business on the Internet.

Her status in Silicon Valley rivaled that of Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison when she left the company this year after a decade to help her friend, Mitt Romney, run for president. Romney's run wasn't successful. But another bid for high office — her own as California governor in 2010 — may be in the cards.

Whitman has said she would consider a run and has retained the political consulting firm run by Steve Schmidt, former adviser to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schmidt now runs the day-to-day operations of the McCain campaign.

But the outgoing Whitman offers only a sly smile when asked about her political aspirations. When pressed on whether she would rule out a run, she says, "Never say never."

The 52-year-old billionaire — arguably the most successful female tech CEO ever, got her first taste of politics on the finance team of former candidate Romney, her boss in the '80s at consulting firm Bain & Co. She is national co-chairwoman of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign.

Whitman lines up with McCain on many issues — especially his economic plan of lower taxes and reduced government spending. She doesn't, however, agree with his call for overturning the abortion-rights decision, Roe v. Wade.

In California, Whitman said she supports Schwarzenegger's philosophy of avoiding tax increases to address the state's budget shortfall. But she said she had not examined his proposals for across-the-board cuts closely enough to offer an opinion.

"Meg's record as a can-do executive and brilliant strategist would make her an obvious choice for leading California," Romney says.

One thing is certain: Another CEO post is unlikely.