SC Gov. Mark Sanford (R) told his fellow Republican governors this evening to be prepared for the "Super Bowl of gubernatorial elections" in 2010, and he noted with optimism for the party's future that governors can exert a "disproportionate amount of influence" on the redistricting process that will occur after the decennial Census is completed.

"This is real gut check time, if you will, for where we go next as American civilization," Sanford, the chairman of the Republican Governor's Association, said during the group's annual gala in DC.

Republicans could be at a disadvantage, however, if Democrats continue their dominance of the nation's governors' mansions, Sanford said, and if they use the 2010 Census to wield political power.

"We've all seen the spaghetti string style districts that don't really represent people; they are designed solely about the process of politics," he added.

It wasn't all somber pronouncements in the opulent Andrew Mellon Auditorum a few blocks east of the White House. Kicking off the night's program, MS Gov. Haley Barbour (R) boasted that the RGA had raised $10.2M dollars from the annual event -- and without the benefit of an appearance from Pres. Bush. The former president never missed an RGA gala, and tonight GOP staffers were quick to mention that Pres. Obama and reporters were absent from the Democratic Governors Association gala, held at Union Station.

At the GOP event, where guests dined on sushi, sliders, steak and chicken fingers, Barbour said there were 15 governors in attendance, including CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). Two possible 2012 notables were no-shows, save for their portraits hanging between the Roman Doric columns: AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and LA Gov. Bobby Jindal (R).

Still, Barbour told the crowd that 2009 and 2010, when 36 governorships are up for grabs, are "the only two years of elections that you oughta give one thought to." He added, "2012 will take care of itself."

It was with '09 in mind that Sanford took to the stage to introduce VA AG Bob McDonnell (R), who is running unopposed for his party's gubernatorial nomination and recently resigned his statewide position to focus on the race, and ex-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie (R), who faces three primary challengers in New Jersey.

During a brief speech, Christie rattled off some stark economic statistics from NJ, including that the state ranks 50th on the "small business survival index."

"Governor (Jon) Corzine is going to tell you this ball is too risky to turn over to a former federal prosecutor," Christie said of the incumbent Democrat. "My question to you is, 'how much worse can I do?'"

While Christie isn't yet his party's nominee, his presence here tonight seemed to indicate that the national party is picking a primary favorite. While Sanford maintained the RGA wouldn't get involved in the contest, he added, "it's a very likely scenario that [Christie] will be the Republican nominee." Sanford said that he was "enthusiastic about the possibility" of a Christie campaign to unseat Corzine.

Christie will need his party's help to raise enough funds to compete against the deep-pocketed former Goldman Sachs executive. But Christie has accepted public matching funds, which binds him to a $5M spending cap for the primary, and $11.5M for the general. (Updated).

"Whatever the additional funds that we think that it will take to knock Corzine out, I think RGA is prepared to step up and do that, if this race remains competitive," said Paul Bennecke, RGA political director. "It's not a specific number."

Christie "is a candidate who can win in the general election," Bennecke said. "We leave all options on the table."

One of those options is to run negative campaign ads against Corzine.

"Corzine's just been disappointing," Bennecke said. "He was supposed to deliver on so much. He was going to stop the bleeding of jobs in New Jersey. He was supposed to know how to manage budgets. He had this Wall Street background and should be able to invest New Jersey's resources prudently. He's failed on all of that."

In a time when average investors are fearful of opening their 401(k) statements, Corzine's Wall Street resume could be a vulnerability, Bennecke said.

Local issues will be the focus of debate in the general election, Christie said. "I think the stimulus package and those kind of decisions will be things that people will examine. But I think local issues will predominate New Jersey."

Christie said he has been in meetings with RGA officials.

"Whatever help we get, we'll be happy to get, but it's really early to be worried about that stuff," he said.

(SEAN J. MILLER)