Former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman officially submitted her bid to run for governor on Monday. The move by the billionaire businesswoman establishment of an "exploratory" committee likely sets up what's expected to be an expensive 17-month auction between herself and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner in the 2010 Republican primary. Whitman is pitching herself as a financial expert in tough economic times. "California faces challenges unlike any other time in its history a weak and faltering economy, massive job losses, and an exploding state budget deficit," Whitman said in a statement.