U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie is encouraging speculation that he will run for governor in 2010, although the longtime Hawaii Democrat stopped short yesterday of declaring he will be a candidate.

“;There is a lot of enthusiasm for it, I am happy to say. I won't discourage it. I am thinking very hard about it,”; Abercrombie said in an interview.

Abercrombie was quizzed about his gubernatorial ambitions after an Internet rumor surfaced that he had formally announced he would run.

“;I think I can make a powerful case that if I should run for governor, I can maximize the leverage of the governor's position in Washington,”; Abercrombie said.

While Abercrombie said he has not made a formal decision, he said he does not want to serve either in an appointive post in the Obama administration or run for the U.S. Senate.

“;I don't have any ambitions further in Washington,”; he said. “;Not with the Obama administration or the Senate.”;

Asked why he would want to leave Washington when his influence is increasing, Abercrombie said he felt “;there would be a vacuum in the governor's mansion.”;

After toying with the idea of running against Gov. Linda Lingle in 2006, Abercrombie said in late 2005 that supporters persuaded him to run again for Congress. Others also said Abercrombie would face funding problems because most of his campaign money came from mainland political action committees, but Hawaii limited out-of-state funds to just 20 percent of a campaign treasury.

Abercrombie's congressional campaign reports a bank balance of $1.2 million, but it is not clear whether the money can be transferred directly to a state race for governor.

Abercrombie, who has represented the urban Honolulu 1st Congressional District since 1991, said he has reached his “;zenith”; in being able to work with members of Congress.

“;Now we have someone in the White House who is sensitive to and knowledgeable about Hawaii and to initiatives from Hawaii,”; Abercrombie said, noting his connections to both President-elect Barack Obama and the Democratic congressional leadership.

Abercrombie reasoned that those connections would help Hawaii if he were governor.

“;Now is the ideal time to have someone in the governor's mansion who has that interconnectivity,”; he said.

Asked whether that would describe himself, Abercrombie said, “;Yeah, that is what is being talked about, and obviously, I think it is true.”;

He noted that both state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and Mayor Mufi Hannemann have been mentioned as possible candidates for governor or Congress.

Brian Schatz, state Democratic Party chairman, said he expects “;a lively discussion”; between Abercrombie, Hanabusa and Hannemann about who should run for governor.

“;We are fortunate that we have several of our best who are taking a serious look at it,”; Schatz said.

Also in the race is Lt. Gov. James Aiona, a Republican.