More room for optimism for the Democrats with the governors' race.

CA, AZ and HI look like likely pick-ups for the Dems, but it's still too early to be sure. In CA especially, Whitman looks to be a strong contender. HI could also be a sleeper GOP upset.

NV: Definite GOP retention assuming Sandoval is the GOP nominee.

CO: Pure toss-up now that Ritter's out and Hickenlooper's in. Wait and see.

IA: Culver's dead in the water. The economy + his seeming endorsement of gay marriage will fuel a Brandstad victory.

MN and IL: pure toss-up, with slight GOP advantage in IL due to Blagojevich scandals and slight Dem advantage in MN now that Coleman's out.

WI: Toss-up, but in the current national environment + a current Dem incumbent = slight advantage to the GOP.

MI, OH, PA, TN, KS, OK: advantage to the GOP due to lack of strong challengers (MI & OH in particular + a struggling incumbent in OH.)

CT, VT: Likely Dem pick-ups at this point.

MA: pure toss-up- I fully expect it to trend GOP later this year. Cahill's Independent bid splitting the anti-Patrick vote is the only ray of hope for the Dems. But expect that anti-incumbent sentiment later this year + the rock-star appeal and campaigning of Scott Brown will fuel a GOP pick-up in Nov. 2010.

RI: Looking good for an Independent pick-up (Chafee.)

Looking to be a VERY bad year for the Dems in terms of governorships as well...