ALBANY, N.Y. -- "I've had a good working relationship with Congressman McNulty," said Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton.
State Senator Neil Breslin said, "[McNulty] gave his heart and soul for 20 years representing this Congressional District, and they're very tough shoes to fill."
Nice words - that also mean potential candidates are working behind the scenes to fill those shoes after McNulty announced he will finish his current term and not run for re-election.
"I've got a great interest in the 21st Congressional District which was a large part of my father's Congressional District when he served for 30 years in Congress," said Stratton.
He isn't announcing anything official yet but says his leadership in Schenectady would work in Washington too.
It's been a few weeks since Congressman Mike McNulty announced he won't seek re-election, and we may now have a better idea of who on the Democratic side is interested in running for his seat.
"Of the candidates who have been mentioned, I believe I'm the only one that has had hands-on administrative experience running a city, administering a $70 million budget, turning a city around from near financial ruin to a surplus situation," said Stratton.
Breslin said, "When you're faced with important issues of ending a bad war, of national health care, improving our education system - these are important issues I've thought about most of my adult life."
He says he's ready to tackle the big issues too, but these two likely aren't the only ones interested in running.
"Originally there were 12 or 14 names mentioned. Now we're only hearing two or three mentioned regularly," said political analyst, Helen Desfosses.
She says others - like Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings - shouldn't be counted out yet either.
"There are some people out there making plans we haven't heard or thought about yet," she said.
While time is ticking, the experts say don't expect to hear any official announcements from the candidates until the New Year. That's because they still have to get their support in line, as well as figure out their financial situations.
"It's estimated it could cost between one and two million to run this race," Desfosses said.
Breslin said that doesn't necessarily count him out.
"I ran countywide in Albany, and that represents 55 percent of the district, so I've run in the majority of the district six times and done quite well," he said.
Stratton said it may not count him out either.
He said, "I think I would be the strongest candidate in the general election, perhaps in the primary too."
Bottom line - let the pre-campaign campaigning begin.