This article is by Dan Hirschhorn in Philadelphia and Alex Roarty in Harrisburg.

Even while they insist their energies are fully focused on electing their prospective party's nominees for president, members of the state's political establishment are quietly eyeing the next big elections in Pennsylvania: the race for governor and the race for senator in 2010.

With a bevy of political insiders set to convene over the next two weeks for their annual political conventions-Democrats in Denver next week and Republicans in St. Paul the following week-it's certain that prospective candidates for the two offices will be putting out feelers for support, though they'll be doing so quietly.

Prospective candidates for both offices will be present at both conventions, and though they assured PolitickerPa.com they were more focused on November's presidential election, most acknowledged it would be nice to have a who's who of state politicians in one room.

"I would say that next week in Denver I'll spend a lot of time talking to other ... Democrats from across the state about intentions and gauging their reaction and support," said Don Cunningham, the Lehigh County Executive who is considering a run for the Democratic nomination to succeed Gov. Ed Rendell.

"I'm not hosting any formal receptions or anything like that," Cunningham was quick to add. "I'm just going to be an active, regular part of the delegation. I know a lot of folks already, and I'm hoping to get to know more."

Most of the Democrats who are considering a bid for the governor's mansion will be in Denver as delegates to the convention, including Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Auditor General Dan Wagner. Tom Knox, the millionaire Philadelphia businessman also considering a run, is not a delegate but will be in Denver, his campaign manager said.

Wagner, who is up for reelection this fall, was hesitant to discuss any quiet lobbying he might do in Denver.

"My philosophy is it's one election at a time," he said.

On the Republican side, Attorney General Tom Corbett, an early frontrunner for the Republican nomination who is also up for reelection, will be in St. Paul as a Pennsylvania delegate. Another prospective Republican candidate, former Congressman Pat Toomey, will not be in attendance, a spokesman said.

Luke Bernstein, executive director of the state GOP, downplayed the notion that candidates would be openly campaigning for future positions in St. Paul. That will change right after Election Day, he acknowledged.

"On Nov. 5, I think a lot of people are going to be jockeying for the governor's seat," Bernstein said.

It's a bit harder to tell whether potential candidates for U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's seat in 2010 will talk about their intentions. Possible Democrats who might run against Specter include U.S. Reps. Joe Sestak (D-Edgmont) and Allyson Schwartz (D-Abington), both of whom will be in Denver as superdelegates. But Specter is known as a fierce campaigner, and with both facing reelection, neither is likely to make their plans clear.

And of course, MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews, who has suggested he might consider his own run against Specter as a Democrat, will be on site for convention coverage. When and where he pops up could hint at his future intentions.

"The people who matter, these people are going to be there," said longtime pollster and political science professor G. Terry Madonna, who will be at both conventions. "And they're going to try and talk to people."