The names of a dozen Democrats have surfaced in recent months as potential candidates for governor in 2014. The list includes:
- U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. Fresh off a re-election campaign, Mr. Casey has not ruled out a run, but has repeatedly said he is happy as a senator. If he runs, almost everyone else won't, and he would spell trouble for any opponent.
- State Treasurer Rob McCord. Also newly re-elected, many Democrats think he is likeliest to run and favorite to win a primary election, if Mr. Casey doesn't run and there is a contested Democratic primary. Mr. McCord hasn't said publicly and sloughed off suggestions of a governor bid as he visited newspaper editorial boards during his recent re-election campaign, but he is telling political types he will run.
- Former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak. Mr. Sestak of suburban Philadelphia always says he's interested in serving the public again, but lets everyone else do the talking about running for governor without saying anything himself. He lost a tight U.S. Senate race to Pat Toomey in 2010, but the time for another statewide race might be right.
- State Attorney General-elect Kathleen Granahan Kane. She always says she has no ambitions for higher office. Considering she was just elected, it's probably way too early to think about anything but the job ahead of her, though she was the top vote-getter statewide on Election Day. Her use of Mr. Corbett's handling of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case did highlight a potential major issue against the governor.
- Former Gov. Ed Rendell. He says the state constitution forbids him from running again, and he's not interested anyway. Others say the restriction only prevents serving more than two consecutive terms. No matter what, his job-creation record will contrast with Mr. Corbett's if the economic slump persists.
- Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro. A former state representative, he is in his first year as commissioner. He won't comment or rule it out, but he's unlikely to run. A run someday is not out of the question.
- Former state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger. Mr. Hanger has all but said he's running. He is planning a reception during Pennsylvania Society festivities Friday in New York City.
- Businessman Tom Knox. A former Philadelphia deputy mayor when Mr. Rendell was mayor, Mr. Knox spent more than $10 million of his own money on an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2007, ran briefly for governor in 2010, but dropped out early on. In an interview this week, Mr. Knox, who said back then he dropped out because his family was against his running, added another reason: polls he commissioned showed no Democrat could beat Mr. Corbett. He's thinking differently this time. He's definitely running, he said.
- Businessman Tom Wolf of York County. A former revenue secretary when Mr. Rendell was governor, he backed off a run in 2010, but might be ready this time.
- Former gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato. He lost badly to Mr. Corbett in 2010. Now an executive at Highmark Inc., it is highly doubtful he would run against Mr. Corbett again.
- U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz. Often mentioned as a statewide candidate, the suburban Philadelphia congresswoman has never showed a serious interest.
- Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski. Says he's flattered to be mentioned as a potential candidate, but says he's concentrating on winning a third term as mayor next year. Of course, he also highlighted credentials and issues he will deal with as mayor - service on a national transportation panel, pension reform and financially distressed cities - that would interest a governor. Keep an eye on him if others don't step up.