The gun has sounded and the candidates for governor in the 2010 election are off. Dozens of gubernatorial wannabes have made rumblings, testing the waters for a statewide run for Georgia's highest elected office. So far, no one has emerged as a dominant candidate in the race and hence, others continue to flirt with the possibility. The only thing missing from the clamor is a last-minute rush to change Georgia's Constitution to permit Gov. Sonny Perdue to run for one more term.

Georgia's two-term limit for governors creating a vacancy in the top spot has been tantamount to the toppling of the first domino in a long string of political dominoes throughout Georgia government. Already, political climbers eager for a shot at the top prize will leave without an incumbent the offices of lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and insurance commissioner. Other politicians interested in those jobs means that most of Georgia's statewide offices and Georgia's Senate will see new faces in 2011.

For the Democrats, Attorney General Thurbert Baker is the latest entrant in the gubernatorial derby. When told of Baker's plans, most Georgians ask: "Who is Baker and what has he done as attorney general?" Undoubtedly, these are questions that the other announced Democratic candidate, David Poythress, and potential candidate Lewis Massey, will answer.

There are other Democrats who have expressed more than a passing interest in the governor's race. With the help of a desperately failing Atlanta newspaper eager for a return to the days of old, former Gov. Roy Barnes has for all practical purposes (but not legal purposes) been waging a full blown campaign to become the anointed Democratic nominee for governor. Yet, Democrats reluctant to repeat history have not been so enthusiastic.

House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) continues to float around as a real possibility, although few see him as having either the resources or the network to compete statewide. And, there are the wishful thinkers who mention Eighth District Congressman Jim Marshal (who has become a bit bored with the mindless lockstep required to serve in the Congress these days.)

For the Republicans, the big three all remained locked and loaded for the gubernatorial run. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has wielded a power gavel during the 2009 Georgia General Assembly in an effort to forge important political allies and diminish potential political enemies.

Secretary of State Karen Handel continues to ride the photo ID horse all the way into good name recognition among registered Georgia voters. And, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine plods along patching together a variety of alliances from libertarians to supporters of the Fair Tax aimed at connecting with the rank and file of the party.

There are continued murmurings of potential bids by Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens (more likely a candidate for the now-vacant attorney general position) and current House Speaker Glenn Richardson (or some other member of his leadership team.)

Notwithstanding the negative media buzz about the 2009 Session of the Georgia General Assembly, Richardson has had a good session and political insiders know it.

There are no automatics for either party's primary.

Certainly, buoyed by President Obama's election, Baker's hope is that the time has come for Georgians to elect their first African American governor. As former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones learned, however, the first challenge will be to win the Democratic primary.

Barnes' hope is that institutional power and money still rule the day, although it was the over-reliance on those two things that led to his political demise last time. Like former Gov. Joe Frank Harris, Minority Leader Porter hopes that the network of local Democrats may be the combination for statewide success, although there is no Speaker Tom Murphy to help it along.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Cagle continues to ride the "Heir Apparent" role with a campaign more akin to an incumbent reelection than a bid for an open seat. Of course, the current governor will have something to say about who can best succeed him and insider odds are that it is unlikely to be Cagle.

Handel seems to be counting on the boost, if any, that comes from Perdue's support. Whether that happens remains to be seen. And finally Oxendine wages his populist campaign, waiting to see if the big money necessary for a competitive gubernatorial race comes through.

J. Randolph Evans is a long-time Republican strategist and the chair of the Financial Institutions practice at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP.   [full bio]