Abortion right's group and fundraising powerhouse EMILY's List rolled out its first 2010 governor's endorsements Friday, giving its stamp of approval to Democrats Alex Sink in Florida and Diane Denish in New Mexico. If elected, both would become the first female governors of their respective states.

Sink, Florida's Chief Financial Officer, looks like she will have a clear path to the Democratic nomination, and is likely to face Republican state Attorney General Bill McCollum, a former 10-term House member who was the GOP's U.S. Senate nominee in 2000 and a candidate in the 2004 Senate primary, in the general election. CQ Politics rates the race a Toss-Up.

Denish has served as New Mexico's lieutenant governor during two terms under Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson and was previously the chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. She is the early favorite to succeed Richardson, who is term-limited, in 2010, though she is likely to face a contested primary and general election to get there. State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez is exploring a Democratic bid and a handful of Republicans -- Albuquerque financial adviser and Army National Guard brigadier general Greg Zanetti, former state Republican chairman and Albuquerque businessman Allen Weh, State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones and former Congress members Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson are all declared or considering run. CQ rates the race Democrat Favored.

The Democratic Governors Association in a fundraising e-mail Tuesday highlighted Florida, Alaska, Georgia and Minnesota as 2010 takeover opportunities.

"We know we can take back the governor's mansion in every one of these states. But these are historically Republican seats, and in this crucial election, we won't win them without a fight," DGA National Political Director Ray Glendening wrote in the fundraising pitch.

Three of the races are open seat contests and in the fourth, Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin has yet to confirm her intention to seek re-election.

Florida state Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson, a Republican, announced Thursday he will not be a candidate for governor in 2010.

His decision strengthens Republican state Attorney General Bill McCollum's status as the party's odds-on favorite.

The race became an open-seat contest last week when Republican Gov. Charlie Crist announced he would run for U.S. Senate in 2010 instead of seeking re-election.

Bill McCollum may not be the only Republican in the Florida gubernatorial race for long.

The state's Agriculture commissioner, tough-guy namesake Charles Bronson, is none too pleased that leading state party officials -- including Chairman Jim Greer -- tried to anoint McCollum, the state's attorney general, as the GOP's nominee as soon as he announced his candidacy on Monday morning.

"I am very concerned about the whole idea of closing down primaries," Bronson said in a telephone interview with CQPolitics on Monday afternoon. "This idea that one person seems to have the only answer to the situation, I just don't believe that."

Bronson said he will make a decison on whether to run "hopefully by the end of the week."

"His ideas and mine might be a lot the same and it could be there are some different issues out there, but you won't know that unless there's a race," he said.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced Monday that he will run in next year's race for governor. His move made him the first major Republican contender to declare his candidacy for the open seat since Republican Gov. Charlie Crist revealed last week that he will run instead for the Senate next year.

McCollum touched on several major issues during his announcement speech in Orlando, including health care, transportation and education.

"Florida faces challenges today unlike any other time in our state's history," McCollum said, according to his written statement. "With your help, I will be elected Florida's next governor and together our state will grow, prosper, and continue to be one of the most wonderful places on earth to live, work, and raise a family."