Is it me, or does it seem way early for governors to be backing candidates in the run for the White House? Nonetheless, they are choosing their horses early, with Hillary Clinton and John McCain getting more goodwill of the guvs:

New York’s U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Arizona’s U.S. Sen. John McCain have garnered the most gubernatorial endorsements with three each.

Stumping for Clinton are Democratic Govs. Martin O’Malley of Maryland, Jon Corzine of New Jersey and Eliot Spitzer of Clinton’s adopted state of New York. In McCain’s corner are Republican Govs. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Mitch Daniels of Indiana and Jon Huntsman of Utah.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) enjoys the backing of Democratic Govs. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Rod Blagojevich of his current home state of Illinois. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) has the endorsement of Republican Govs. Matt Blunt of Missouri and Don Carcieri of Rhode Island.

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds (R) backs former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R). The only sitting governor in the presidential race — Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson — has yet to be politically blessed by any of his gubernatorial colleagues. Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) also has not been endorsed by any current governor to date.

Predictably, governors of early primary states and caucus states are showing admirable restraint by not endorsing any candidate, preferring, it seems, to let their voters decide for themselves — next year.