National Governors' Association Annual Meeting Lightly Attended

Biloxi, Mississippi -- The National Governors' Association annual meeting has traditionally been a high profile event offering its members with presidential aspirations an opportunity to shine before their peers, but this year fewer than half of the governors are expected to show up. Even this year's chairman of the group -- Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell -- will be a no show. He is stuck in Pennsylvania trying to reach agreement with legislative leaders on a budget.

It was already known that other governors whose national ambitions have recently been quashed will also not be here. Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who is chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, will not attend. South Carolina governor Mark Sanford is skipping the meeting to try to find a new soul mate -- he is traveling with his wife. Another high profile leader, New York governor David Paterson, was forced to skip the meeting due to uncertainty over who has gubernatorial authority while he is out of state.

Today's meetings open with a news conference this morning and include sessions on the nation's infrastructure, the state of the economy, and education reform.