With no obvious Republican front-runner in sight for the 2010 governor’s race, speculation is buzzing within GOP circles that U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner of Mobile is mulling a bid for the state’s top job.

“I think there’s a lot of qualified candidates …,” Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine said Monday. “And of course, Jo’s name has been out there for a month or two.”

A half-dozen other Republican officeholders and activists interviewed by the Press-Register this week also said they had heard that Bonner could be eyeing the race. All, however, said they have no direct knowledge of his plans.

possible Jo Bonner run for Alabama governor