ATLANTA --- Candidates for some higher office are almost impossible to avoid at the Capitol, and opinions diverge over whether such blatant ambition is a good thing to have on display.

In the 1990s and earlier, candidates waited until spring in the election year to announce their intentions. That meant no legislative session would come between the announcement and the election, and candidates already serving in one office could largely get the official business out of the way before the campaign began.

But as the financial stakes have risen, so has the need to begin fundraising early. A few candidates barely waited until the votes were counted in the 2008 election before announcing for 2010.

Though state law prohibits state officials from soliciting donations during the session, there's no way to prevent their electoral goals creeping into committee hearings and floor debates.

And they're everywhere. By one quick count, 19 legislators, constitutional officers and lobbyists have made known their interest in specific offices.

House Majority Leader Jerry Keen was contemplating a run for governor or lieutenant governor. Then the St. Simons Island Republican announced he wasn't running.

He made clear he wanted to keep his current job so no one questioned his motivation for taking any policy stand in the House.

"I didn't want anybody to say, 'Well, that's just because Keen's running for this or that.' And that's the decision I made," he said.

Last week, Rep. Austin Scott of Tifton was accused of grandstanding by Rep. Keith Heard, D-Athens, during a racially tinged debate over a ceremonial resolution. Mr. Scott has acknowledged his interest in the GOP gubernatorial nomination, and Mr. Heard said that was his reason for forcing a vote on the resolution to make President Obama an honorary member of the Legislative Black Caucus. Mr. Scott got the resolution sent back to committee, and he might gain votes from the news coverage. But his colleagues could consider every comment politically motivated.

The scenario gets more complicated when two opponents are in the same body, such as Sens. Ralph Hudgens of Hull and Seth Harp of Midland, who want the GOP nod for insurance commissioner.

Friday, Mr. Hudgens and Mr. Harp clashed over an insurance bill. Mr. Hudgens was presenting House Bill 550, which would change how mutual insurance companies compensate policyholders when they convert to for-profit companies issuing stock. Mr. Harp argued against it.

The details seemed less important than the vote, which insiders viewed as a gauge of support in next year's primary. Mr. Hudgens fell short, 23-26.

Reach Walter Jones at (404) 589-8424 or walter.jones@morris.com.