ATLANTA --- The 2010 general election is 19 months away, an eternity in politics. But the jockeying has already begun among the state's power brokers.

Contests up and down the ballot will be up for grabs from one of Georgia's U.S. Senate seats to all 236 state legislative positions. But the governor's race is clearly shaping up as the main attraction. Six candidates have jumped into the fray and several more -- including former Gov. Roy Barnes -- are considering bids.

The lure of an open seat when Gov. Sonny Perdue's second term expires sets up the possibility of contentious primaries among both Democrats and Republicans. It could make for a grueling and costly marathon.

"This is a race that is absolutely destined to be nasty," said Kerwin Swint, a political science professor at Kennesaw State University who wrote a book on negative campaigns.

"It's going to be crowded. It's going to be dirty. It's going to break fundraising records. It'll be a real donnybrook," Mr. Swint said.

On the Republican side, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Secretary of State Karen Handel, state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and state Rep. Austin Scott, of Tifton, are running. Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens is also considering entering the race.

Among Democrats, Attorney General Thurbert Baker and David Poythress, the former commander of the Georgia National Guard, have thrown their hats in. Mr. Barnes, who served one term as governor from 1998 to 2002, and House Minority Leader DuBose Porter are considering a run.

The first critical test will be the dash for cash. Many state office holders in Georgia are barred from fundraising during the 40-day legislative session. But the floodgates have opened now that the final gavel has sounded.

The candidates' ability to fill their coffers will provide the first glimpse of who has the support to go all the way. The next campaign filings are due June 30. Mr. Cagle and Mr. Oxendine were the only GOP candidates in the race when the last filings were due Dec. 31. Mr. Cagle had raised $1.3 million and Mr. Oxendine $1 million. Mr. Poythress had raised $304,000.

"Early on, people will want to judge the horse race," said Rick Dent, a Democratic strategist. "And one of the best ways to judge that is who has the money. The one who has the most money will have an easier time getting more of it."

Georgia Republican fundraiser Eric Tannenblatt, a former chief of staff to Mr. Perdue, said the strong GOP field is a sign of how far the party has come after decades in the cold. Mr. Perdue's upset win in 2002 made him the first Republican governor in the state since Reconstruction. And Georgia has grown increasingly conservative since then.

"I'm sort of watching this with a huge smile on my face because I'm remembering what it was like when we couldn't even find candidates for these races," Mr. Tannenblatt said. "Competition can be a good thing."

But Mr. Dent said that if both parties engage in tough primary campaigns it will help level the playing field for the general election.

"If both sides come out bloody, bruised and broke then it doesn't matter," Mr. Dent said.

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson is seeking a second term in 2010. But the Atlanta Republican has yet to draw a Democratic challenger. The decisions by Mr. Cagle, Ms. Handel and Mr. Baker to run for governor has set off furious maneuvering to replace them.