For some weeks now, DFL-watching hallway pundits around the Capitol have been touting the possibility that state rep and DFL candidate for governor Tom Rukavina could make a mighty fine running mate on somebody else's DFL gubernatorial ticket if Rukavina's own long-shot bid for the endorsement comes to ruin at the state convention later this month. The only problem is that Rukavina is saying no way.

U.S. Rep. James Oberstar is endorsing Tom Rukavina for the state's top post. "I'm supporting Tom Rukavina for governor because he has unwavering commitment to our core DFL values: jobs for our people, educational opportunities for our children and economic fairness for every citizen of Minnesota," Oberstar said in a statement announcing the endorsement.

R.T. Rybak called a Capitol press conference this afternoon to announce support from seven state legislators for his gubernatorial campaign. The only problem: the House and Senate members were still stuck trying to complete their work before the Easter break.

The 14 state legislators that initially supported DFL Sen. Tom Bakk's bid for governor aren't rushing to find a new candidate to support.

On Monday evening, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher injected gubernatorial politics into the legislative process, albeit in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

The bank executive and influential GOP donor is supporting Marty Seifert's gubernatorial bid.

This morning I caught up with Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, outside the Senate DFL caucus meeting, to ask about his "tentative" plan to run for the Minnesota Senate again following his departure from the governor's race over the weekend.

State Sen. Tom Bakk's departure from the 2010 governor's race casts away a sizeable stable of support among elected state legislators.

We're betting the other DFL candidates for governor might find Mark Dayton's new campaign digs a bit intimidating.

Last night, Reps. Tom Emmer (R-Delano) and Marty Seifert (R-Marshall), the two top GOP contenders for governor squared off at Armstrong High School for one of the three last debates currently scheduled before the GOP state convention begins April 29.