Democratic State Senator Nan Rich just announced that she would be running for governor in 2014.

This is a good thing.

I am not saying that I support her or that she’ll be a good candidate, but it could help galvanize the Democratic bench of candidates who believe they might be suited for running for statewide office.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Rod Smith has never ruled himself out as a candidate for governor in 2014. This should help force him to, once the 2012 elections are over, either admit he is interested in running (in which case, he would have to resign as chair) or firmly say that he will not be running for governor (though I always thought he’d be a better candidate for attorney general or ag commissioner).

Alex Sink has dropped clear hints that she might run again. While she certainly won’t announce this year, Rich’s announcement could push Sink to begin building a team and developing a clear message of what she stands for how and how that stand distinguishes her from Florida’s grifter-in-chief, Rick Scott.

Likewise, if Crist intends to make a go of it as a Democrat, this will push him to speed the pubic acknowledgement of his party affiliation – publicly saying that the more moderate Democratic party better represents where he stands than the far right machines of mindless ideology and shameless person profit that is the Florida GOP.

And folks like Dan Gelber, Loranne Ausley, Pam Iorio, and others (I left out Dave Aronberg because he is running for Palm Beach County State Attorney right now) will face similar pressure.

All in all, that’s a good thing. And if the nominee should finally be Nan Rich, she’ll have my blessing and a contribution.