There may be another Democrat looking at the 2010 governor's race.

State Rep. Gary Odom of Nashville, currently the top-ranking Democrat in the State House, is being encouraged to enter the 2010 governor's race, according to NashvillePost.com sources.

Prompting the whispers is a concern among some Democratic politicos on Capitol Hill that past income-tax votes are a death knell for some of the other major contenders. Former State Rep. Kim McMillan, who also served as House Democratic Leader, voted for the income tax when she was in the legislature and former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Doug Horne of Knoxville passed a resolution while heading the state party supporting the measure.

Another possible entrant into the race, Nashville businessman Ward Cammack, is considered too much of an unknown.

While he would not dismiss the speculation about entering the governor's race, Odom told NashvillePost.com, "My priority is 100 percent focused on the state legislature and passing a budget that will help Tennessee's working families."