The 2010 governor guessing game!

DFL Sen. Tom Bakk issued a news release yesterday announcing the formation of an exploratory committee for the 2010 race for Governor. It detailed his history and prompted people to go to his website.

It's no coincidence that Bakk issued the release just one day before the DFL state party convention starts in Rochester. It's a good chance for him to meet and greet plenty of the hardcore DFL activists.

Bakk's announcement got us thinking about the candidates who could run for governor in 2010. We're not talking about the candidates who can win - just the candidates who may decide to run. So let's go through our handy-dandy, back of the envelope list that I created (let me know if you know of others).

Republicans

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (the GOP field is cleared if he decides to run again).

Brian Sullivan (which PIM says would be the GOP front-runner if Pawlenty doesn't run)

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert

Congressman Jim Ramstad (my head still hurts after I slapped myself for not asking about this when Ramstad announced he wasn't seeking another term. At the time he said he wasn't tired of public policy but was tired of the constant commute. D'OH!).

Rep. Laura Brod

Former Rep. Charlie Weaver

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann

Sen. Geoff Michel (he didn't deny a run when he decided not to run for Ramstad's seat).

Former Sen. David Gaither

DFLers

Tom Bakk (already in)

Susan Gaertner (already in)

Former DFL Sen. Mark Dayton (he's throwing a big 'ol party this weekend)

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak

Rep. Tom Rukavina

Former Rep. Doug Peterson

Former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza

Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher

Congressman Tim Walz

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman

DFL Sen. Ellen Anderson

DFL Sen. Tarryl Clark

Rep. Joe Atkins

Sen. Steve Murphy

Private businessman Kelly Doran

Mike Hatch

Anyone else? If not, Guess away!

UPDATE: Bill Salisbury with the Pioneer Press has a story that focuses on which possible candidates are working the DFL convention. He adds State Auditor Rebecca Otto to the mix. Read it here.

If Pawlenty does not run, Laura Brod is the person I would support.

In Pawlenty's absence, Rep. Seifert and Rep. Brod are who I would like to see run (in that order).

I don't have any to add to your list, but I do have a question for you, Tom: why did you write "former" Rep. Rukavina? Did I miss something?

I have no idea why I wrote that. It was probably because I was moving names around based on whether they said they thought about running or someone suggested them. Sorry about the error.

Plenty of governor candidates at convention, http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=16436&freebie_check&CFID=44361223&CFTOKEN=15640266&jsessionid=8830b441b8f8187b3335

"Those thought to be interested in the job or whose names often pop up on the subject include Ramsey County Attorney Suzan Gaertner, state Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook, state Rep. Tom Rukavina of Virginia, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher of Minneapolis, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, former state Rep. Doug Peterson, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, former state Rep. Matt Entenza, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz and state Sen. Tarryl Clark."