CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Erskine Bowles' decision not to run for North Carolina governor hasn't quenched the interest of other Democratic politicians still looking at the idea of running since Gov. Beverly Perdue announced she wouldn't seek re-election.
But now that Bowles has said no, what does it mean for the Democrats hope of staying in the governor's mansion?
It certainly won't set up a Charlotte versus Charlotte matchup this fall - Bowles and Pat McCrory are both from the Queen City.
One week to the day Bev Perdue dropped a bomb shell another shoe falls in the race for North Carolina's next governor.
"Unfortunately I'm getting pretty good at this." That's what Bowles said in his concession speech a little over seven years ago after losing his second statewide race, the U.S. Senate seat to Republican Richard Burr in 2004.
But despite the two-time loss Erskine Bowles was Democrats' odds-on favorite to run for governor this year.
Bowles was polling better than a field of 13 Democratic contenders in hypothetical matchups to presumptive Republican nominee and ex-Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.
Thursday Bowles ended the mystery releasing a statement saying, "I will not be a candidate for governor." He didn't give a reason why.
"I think it blows the Democratic nomination wide open. Anybody who's anybody who's thinking about running for the Democratic nomination is probably going to get in," says Catawba College political scientist Dr. Michael Bitzer.
Bowles becomes the third Democrat this week to pass on the chance to run joining Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and Congessman Heath Schuler who represents Western North Carolina.
Now three current or former congressmen and a previous state treasurer could jump into the race and there may be more we don't know.
Late Thursday former Congressman Bob Etheridge announced he was in the race.
He joins NC Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and state representative Bill Faison who have said they're in.
Faison said Thursday Bowles made the right choice: "Both Erskine and his family are held in highest regard in the state. I'm glad that he considered it. I think he came to the right conclusion."
None of the current Democrats so far has the name recognition or the cash as Pat McCrory.
But that's not a problem says state Democratic Party chairman David Parker of Lake Norman.
"Erskine Bowles would have been a phenomenal governor," Parker said, "but then I'm satisfied that all of the other candidates that I've heard from on the Democratic side would be excellent governors as well certainly far greater than any indication we're seeing from Pat McCrory."
It was the resume that made Bowles attractive to the Democrats: Former UNC System President two-time U.S. Senate candidate, former White House Chief of Staff and most recently he co-chaired President Obama's Deficit Reduction Commission.
The Charlotte investment banker is said to be the most well-known living North Carolina Democrat never to have served an elected office.
This is making news now because there's not much time for candidates to decide. Filing for office open in less than a week and a half.
And there are only 96 days until the primary in May when voters choose the nominee.
Democrats have held onto North Carolina's governor's seat for nearly 20 years.
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