Rematches are generally a losing proposition in politics, and there is little appetite for another Richard Vinroot run after he lost to Easley 52-47 in 2000. The ex-mayor seems ready to prove the old adage that there's no life after city hall (although ex-mayor and current Congresswoman Sue Myrick might have something to say to that.) However, Vinroot still leads in the polls as his competitors slowly build name recognition.

Bill Cobey resigned as state GOP chairman in July 2003 and soon picked up the endorsement of Senator Jesse Helms. Cobey has an extensive and varied resume: congressman, UNC athletic director, and appointed head of two departments of state government. He is running on a platform of education, lower taxes, and economic development, and has criticized Easley on illegal immigration and everything else.

Patrick Ballantine, 38, seems a bit boyish to be running for governor. He has, however, compiled a solid conservative record in the NC Senate representing Wilmington (far eastern NC) and has proven to be a responsible legislative leader. It is partly due to his efforts that Republicans gained several seats in the senate in 2002, and came close to taking control of the chamber. He has garnered support from a large number of state legislators. Ballantine, a UNC grad, is still not very well known in the state.

State senator Fern Shubert is not shy about speaking her mind. The only woman candidate, Shubert bases her platform on economic development (she has been noted as a particularly business-friendly legislator), opposition to illegal immigration (specifically drivers licenses for illegals, an Easley policy), and better roads and schools. The main question with Shubert is whether she can raise the money to wage a statewide campaign.

George W. Little ("the other Dubya") is a long-time Republican activist and insurance company owner. Little, 61, is a former vice chairman of the NC state economic development board. He is a UNC grad and hails from Southern Pines, near Pinehurst and Fayetteville. Little is a powerful speaker with a booming baritone voice, and would make a powerful contrast to sissy-boy Governor Easley. George W. also has extensive fundraising contacts after many years of helping to finance others' runs for office.

Dan Barrett, 42, has been talked up for various political offices but the governorship seems an unlikely step for this rising politician. He does have a message that is calculated to take on Easley, though. Barrett makes a point of Easley's withholding money from local governments to pay for massive state spending increases. Barrett has strong retail political skills, but doesn't have the resources to take his campaign wholesale through TV ads.

The geographic diversity of the field is astounding. Ballantine from the east (Wilmington), Cobey from Durham, Barrett from the Winston-Salem area, and both Vinroot and Shubert from Charlotte, while George W. Little hails from Southern Pines, which is . . . well, it's east of Charlotte and south of Greensboro.

By the Numbers

Prognosis Easley is a relatively weak incumbent, having been elected promising to instate a lottery but has failed to get either an affirmative vote from the legislature or a referendum. It is unlikely that the lottery will go anywhere in the next year, and Easley doesn't have much to show for his time in office except for tax hikes three years in a row. Luckily for him, the asinine legislature has taken most of the burden and blame off of his shoulders, even making him look conservative at times, and while people aren't crazy about him they don't dislike him either.

I really wonder what is going through Vinroot's head, because Republicans across the state clearly do not want him to run again. Eventually his name identification edge will fade, and he'll either drop out or just lose in the primary. With months to go before the nomination Barrett, Little, and Shubert still have time to catch fire. But the race is probably between Cobey and Ballantine at this point.

Lloyd Jackson is a respected state senator, so the Democrats won't nominate him.

Joe Manchin III is the safe, bland, establishment choice for the nomination, which means he'll almost certainly get it. Can an establishment Democrat stay completely unconnected to the shenanigans of Bob Wise? Has Wise hurt the party label for everyone? There's not too much evidence to say he has, but stay tuned.

The Republicans

Former Secretary of Tax and Revenue Rob Capehart has proposed the idea of Lincoln/Douglas debates between the candidates for governor. Dan Moore has declined to participate but Monty Warner has agreed to debate; the details remain to be worked out. "Rob’s campaign has put forward specific plans on reforming the tax system, higher education, and workers compensation." Capehart is a WVU alum, current tax law professor, and pro-life. His website is highly functional, even featuring a forum for discussing "his campaign, platform, and pressing political issues for West Virginia".

Dan Moore, long time chairman and CEO of Matewan Bancshares, a West Virginia bank. He went on to partner in a building supplies company, and owns five auto dealerships with his wife. He has ties to both WVU and Marshall. Curiously, he didn't become a Republican until age 60, two years ago. He's supported by some big-bucks members of the BushCheney West Virginia operation.

Monty Warner proves popular suspicion that half of all Virginians are named Warner. Monty's brother Kris Warner is chairman of the WEST Virginia Republican Party, plus there's Senator John Warner and Governor Mark Warner, both of Virginia. Monty was a West Point grad and served 29 years in the Army. Recently he was state Inspector General for two years.

By the Numbers

Prognosis Let's be honest. This is still a Democrat state, although trending Republican. Joe Manchin, or whoever the Democrats nominate, starts out with an edge, although a competitive campaign could be a major test of what has become a moribund and stale Democratic Party.

Governor Bob Holden has suffered through a troublesome first term in office, earning the moniker "One Term Bob". Voters elected a Republican-dominated legislature in 2002, which has given the governor fits. His state of the state address in 2004 was a broadside against the Republican legislature, accusing them of underfunding schools and lots of nastier things. His rhetoric should help rally the Democratic Party behind him as he faces a primary. Many pundits and politicos in both parties see him as a probable loser in the 2004 election, a perception that has spawned the candidacy of . . .

. . . current State Auditor Claire McCaskill. She has an uphill fight to knock off Holden in the Democratic primary, however, as Holden has a significant bankroll and the support of the national Democrat establishment.

By the Numbers

Prognosis Blunt will be favored in this race. A contentious primary is bad news for the Democrats. Missouri is a swing state, so look for significant spending by both presidential nominees.

Republican Federico Uribe-Cruz is running but hasn't drawn much interest. Many question the health department director's credentials for the governorship.

Attorney General Christine Gregiore is the frontrunning Democrat, popular and powerful. Conventional wisdom says she has the nomination locked up. I agree.

King County Executive Ron Sims trails Gregoire in the Democrat primary. He threatened to challenge Locke in a primary but now finds himself staring up at Gregoire.

State Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge is the third Democrat candidate. He's been an announced candidate forever, a favorite of the teachers' union, but hasn't gained much traction beyond that.

By the Numbers

Prognosis Uphill battle for Rossi, but he's a good candidate. Not well known yet, so his poll numbers are low. His campaign describes the race against Gregoire as similar to running against an incumbent. One factor that may come into play is Washington's late primary date, September 14th, especially if Sims and Talmadge continue to draw strong interest as Gregoire alternatives and fracture the Democratic base.

William Swain Lee, aka Bill Lee, former state supreme court justice, is the front-runner and favored candidate of the influential DuPont family. Lee is running as a political outsider. He is virtually assured the nomination. Lee rose to public prominence presiding over the 17-month murder trial of Thomas J. Capano, who killed his former mistress and dumped her body in the Atlantic; Lee sentenced him to death.

Mike Protack is a commercial airline pilot and former platoon commander, pilot, and recruiter in the U.S. Marines. The U. Delaware grad lost to Ray Clatworthy for the U.S. Senate nomination in 2002.

By the Numbers

Prognosis Ruth Ann Minner is the safest Democrat in 2004. The former receptionist for Governor Tribbitt rose to become state senator, lieutenant governor, and then Delaware's first woman governor. Delaware is a historically Republican state that, along with much of the northeast, has trended toward the Democrats. Bill Lee has the GOP united behind him this time after losing in the 2000 primary, but he'll need an aggressive campaign and help from BushCheney to pull out an upset victory.

Mitch Daniels, OMB head, former Eli Lilly executive and Lugar chief of staff. Daniels has strong establishment and grassroots support and will be the nominee. He has been traveling around Indiana in a campaign RV, has visited all 92 counties at least once so far and is on his second tour of the state.

Randy Harris, Petersburg mayor.

Eric Miller, conservative activist.

Bob Parker, Indianapolis businessman.

By the Numbers

Prognosis Kernan and Daniels will face off in a close, closely watched matchup -- right now it's a tossup. At this point some are still deciding what to think about their new governor, Kernan, and only about half of poll respondents have an opinion regarding Mitch Daniels, who has never held elective office and has not yet purchased TV advertising. This puppy is still in the developing stage, although the Republican primary is coming right up on May 4th.

The Democrats

What Democrats? No one has come forward to run yet. The flavor of the month is long time Agriculture Commissioner Steve Taylor, who says he's seriously considering running -- but is busy with his family farms and has no money for a campaign.

By the Numbers

Prognosis Benson is heavily favored for a second term.

Pete Clavelle is the mayor of Burlington, currently unopposed in the Democratic primary.

By the Numbers

Prognosis Clavelle is considered a strong challenger, although Vermonters are generally reluctant to eject their governors after only one two-year term -- and Governor Jim Douglas is a popular, long-time public servant.

State Senator and businessman Parley Hellewell is running to lower taxes and remove counterproductive laws from the books. He is a Mormon.

Who is Nolan Karras? Former state house speaker, finance chair of the Finance Chairman for the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee, and current Chair of the Board of Regents. Karras is a Weber State and U. Utah alumnus. He is a Mormon.

Former U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman, Jr. He is a Mormon.

Jim Hansen. He is a Mormon.

Gary Herbert. He is a Mormon.

Merit Medical CEO Fred Lampropoulos has spent over $600,000 on radio ads and outreach to Republican activists. He is a Mormon.

State House Speaker Marty Stephens of Farr West, a Mormon.

Scott Matheson, Jr. is the son of former governor Scott Matheson and the brother of Utah Congressman Jim Matheson. Scott is the dean of the University of Utah law school and former Assistant D.A. He is a Mormon.

By the Numbers

Prognosis The Matheson name is the only thing that can get a Democrat elected in Utah. Fortunately for them, a Matheson is running, so this race will be a humdinger! guaranteed to be full of Mormons.

By the Numbers

Prognosis Hoeven will win a second term. The real question is where he will go from there, House or Senate.

Former Secretary of State Bob Brown, a retired teacher. Running mate: state rep. and former state budget director Dave Lewis.

Pat Davison, a 46-year-old Billings businessman, is running a well-funded campaign centered on an anti-tax platform.

Tom Keating, former state senator. Running mate: PSC Commissioner Matt Brainard.

Ken Miller, former state senator and state GOP chairman.

Democrat Brian Schweitzer, a wealthy farmer, lost a close race to Senator Conrad Burns in 2000 and is still well-known.

By the Numbers

Prognosis Bob Brown is the leading candidate for the Republican nomination and would have a slight edge over Brian Schweitzer in the general election.