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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Maryland Republicans said they will leave the 2008 Republican National Convention energized for the two-month sprint to Election Day, but some are already preparing for the season that begins immediately after.

Party leaders are in discussions about who to run for governor, said Stephen M. Wright, a member of the Harford County Republican Central Committee who is part of a statewide effort working to build a strong slate of Republican candidates.

"In Maryland we took a hit in 2006, and we need a Republican leader to step forward and make a good run at it," said Wright of Churchville, an alternate delegate to the convention who headed former Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele's 2006 Senate campaign in Harford County.

Among the candidates the group is hoping to lure into the race: former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Steele or Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold.

Leopold said this week that he is "planning to run for re-election" to a second term as county executive, but stopped short at ruling out a run for higher office.

"One day can be an eternity in politics," the former member of the House of Delegates said. "You never know what tomorrow brings and you don't want to close the door prematurely."

Ehrlich did not accompany the Maryland delegation to St. Paul, citing family and business commitments.

His absence was noted.

"I'm surprised," said James F. Shalleck, chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party. "He's the head of our party, the titular head. If he's not here that can be an indicator that his interest is waning."

Leopold would have a good start if he chose to run, Shalleck said.

"He's very popular in Anne Arundel County, and there are over 500,000 people in Anne Arundel County," he said. "It'd be a very strong base to run from."

Steele, who failed in his 2006 Senate run, has achieved national recognition as chairman of GOPAC. He said this week that he has plans for 2010. He's just not saying what they are.

Steele has said that he would not oppose Ehrlich for governor. Whether he has his eye on that office or any office is unknown.

"I have plans, I just don't know what they are yet," said Steele, who revved up the convention crowd during a primetime speech Wednesday. "I love my state, and I want to help my state. However my family and I feel I can be helpful to my state, that's what I'll do."

Steele needs to find his place in the party, said Kevin Igoe, a Republican strategist and former executive director of the state GOP.

"I think the party needs Michael, and I think he's a great spokesman for the party and its principles. I think it's a question of what's the best role for him? It could be public office. It could be party office. It could be appointed office," Igoe said.

Maryland Republican Party Chairman James R. Pelura III said he "would love to see" Steele run for statewide office.

"I do see him running for governor," Pelura said. "He wouldn't want to run in the primary against Governor Ehrlich."

While Steele's star has risen on the national stage, his name can only grow in Maryland, Pelura said.

"When he ran in 2006 he was popular among a lot of Maryland Republicans," Pelura said. "I think a lot of Democrats were just starting to look at Michael Steele."

There are few other Republicans who currently hold elected office or carry the kind of name recognition that could make them a viable candidate for statewide office.

State Sen. E.J. Pipkin (R-Dist. 36) of Elkton, coming off a primary loss to Sen. Andrew P. Harris (R-Dist. 7) of Cockeysville for the 1st Congressional District seat, said he plans to run for re-election to the Senate.

House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell is well-respected within the party, but not well known outside the party or his Southern Maryland district.

By 2010, he will have spent 16 years in the House, the same amount of time Ellen Sauerbrey had spent in the House by 1994 when, as House minority leader, she took her first of two runs at governor.

O'Donnell strongly deflected any speculation that he might follow the same path.

"I have no designs to run for higher office," said O'Donnell, who plans to stand for re-election.

He added Harford County Executive David R. Craig and House Minority Whip Christopher B. Shank to the list of gubernatorial contenders.

The state party has a number of qualified potential candidates for all offices, O'Donnell said. But if they intend to run, they need to declare soon.

Fred Thompson proves that, he said. O'Donnell was co-chairman of Thompson's Maryland presidential campaign and said that the former Tennessee senator's "greatest failure" was his late start.

There is a timeline, O'Donnell said.

"There's not a red sign up that says ‘Here it is,'" he said. "But once you cross [a certain point], the game of catch-up is prohibitive."

Leopold said he imparted that wisdom to one unnamed Maryland convention delegate who is considering a run for office.

"I said it's already late, you ought to be knocking on doors," said Leopold, an elected official in Hawaii and Maryland for 32 years. "There's no substitute for personal contact.

"They say baseball pennants are won in the spring," he said. "You've got to get out early."

Maryland convention delegation chairman Donald E. Murphy, a former delegate turned lobbyist, used another baseball analogy to describe the day after Election Day. "Opening Day is Nov. 5," he said. "Spring training is now."

But just like veteran big-leaguers, not everyone attends this spring training.

"Gov. Ehrlich didn't have to come up here to build a campaign force or increase name recognition," Cavey said.

Those without the name recognition of Ehrlich "need a two-year run-up to be able to do it," O'Donnell said.

And they need a cue from the man who many say, despite his absence, still holds claim to the Republican mantle in Maryland.

"If Bob Ehrlich is not going to run, he needs to make that known to Michael Steele," Murphy said. "Because there's sort of a pecking order."