Buzzing around last night at the cocktail parties and receptions in New York City that make up the Pennsylvania Society were many of the pols considering getting into the governor's race in 2010.
The list of Democrats making the rounds is lengthy. We saw Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox. We also hear that former state Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf, Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham and state Auditor General Jack Wagner are up here shaking hands.
On the Republican side, we spotted state Attorney General Tom Corbett, former U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan as well as U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach. The Harrisburg news service Capitolwire reported this week that Gerlach -- who represents the 6th District, which covers parts of Montgomery, Chester and Berks County -- was considering getting in the race.
"We're just taking a hard look at it, a very serious look at it," said Gerlach, who said he had set no time frame for making a decision. "We're going to talk to a lot of friends and supporters in the coming months."
Governor Rendell, of course, is in his last term as governor. Corbett said this annual gathering of state elected and other political movers and shakers was a required stop for those contemplating a run.
"If you want to be a statewide candidate, you need to go to Pennsylvania Society," he said.
But Corbett noted that this was no party. "This is work," he said.