Governor's Race Heating Up As Candidates Begin Throwing Names In The Ring

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- It's still a ways out, but the 2014 governor's race is taking shape.

Adam May takes a look at how the potential candidates are going after support and money.

"I give you our lieutenant governor and our future governor of Maryland, Anthony Brown," said Governor Martin O'Malley.

Governor O'Malley's weekend endorsement of Brown for 2014 may be one of the biggest non-surprises in politics.

But a look around the event at other power-players in Maryland's Democratic party makes it clear that Brown has a lot of support and that could give him a fundraising edge.

"I ask you to join me on this campaign to become your next governor of the great state of Maryland," Brown said.

But other potential Democratic candidates include Attorney General Doug Gansler. He reportedly already has more than $5 million in the bank.

For now, Gansler is holding off any announcement.

"It's 18 months before the election, so I don't think there's a real appetite for the next year and half to have a governor's race," Gansler said.

"So I'm going to keep focusing on my job everyday, but we'll look at the governor's race for sure. More in the fall, when it's a little more appropriate for us," he continued.

Congressman Dutch Ruppersburger could be the dark horse, as the only Baltimore area candidate with a strong track record of raising funds.

A number of Republicans are considering a run, but so far, well known candidates haven't filed.