The announcement by Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Clearwater, that he is considering a run for the governorship of South Carolina causes one to take notice.

Moore is a rarity – a prominent Democrat in a state full of Republicans. Yet the idea of Moore running for the state's top elected office is intriguing. There are few in the Legislature who have been more willing and more able to reach across party lines effectively than Moore. His is often a voice of reason in a world that has become overly partisan.

Although statewide recognition may be a problem to overcome for Moore, neither Mark Sanford nor Jim Hodges before him had great statewide appeal before their successful bids for the Governor's Mansion.

Although Sanford's efforts to reduce taxes and other people-friendly stances may endear him to many voters, he is far from the darling of the GOP power structure and has had more than his share of run-ins with Republican members of the Legislature. Sanford may also face some political backlash for what appear to some to be efforts to undermine public education. And his refusal to help Medicaid recipients by pushing for a higher cigarette tax with proceeds aimed at that program may not be forgotten by the tens of thousands of poor in the state.

Moore has been a staunch supporter of public education during his 27 years in the General Assembly and has been an advocate of the poor during that tenure. Stepping into the ring against an incumbent governor might be something of a political risk, but Moore would not be putting his S.C. Senate seat at risk since he was re-elected last year.

Perhaps the one thing that might keep Moore from making the run would be his feeling that he could not contribute to the Legislature as effectively if he were running for governor. Moore tossing his hat into the ring would make a lively political season in South Carolina.