In a race that isn't likely to be settled for nearly a year, Democrats Doug Racine and Deb Markowitz continue to up the ante in their competition to become the party's gubernatorial nominee in 2010.

They aren't the only Democrats running. Sen. Susan Bartlett, D-Lamoille, has announced she's in and several other Democrats have said they are considering runs, too. Racine and Markowitz, however, have been at it longer and seem to step up their efforts at about the same moment.

Racine, a state senator and former lieutenant governor, announced this week he had added to his "arsenal." He contracted with Brendan Bush of Original Gravity Media, Inc., in Burlington, as an Internet strategy consultant.

Bush, 29, will redesign Racine's campaign website, develop online outreach materials, and work with field director Amy Shollenberger to add to the campaign's grassroots outreach strategy.

Racine said Bush's credentials include work on two presidential campaigns, numerous U.S. senate campaigns, and two gubernatorial campaigns.

Markowitz, secretary of state, just released an online video she hopes will go viral. She wants supporters to share it with their friends.

The video is a kind of get-acquainted piece. Check it out. I'm not sure it's such a good idea to show Markowitz looking at the camera as she drives, but that's me.

Obviously, their latest campaign additions show that both Markowitz and Racine plan to use more than stickers and whistle stops to reach voters.

-- Nancy Remsen

Labels: Deb Markowitz, Doug Racine