Elizabeth Vale, who is also executive director of the White House Business Council, would bring a different profile to a field of mostly current and former elected officials. And with the Democratic primary field largely empty, she could have an immediate impact on the still-undefined race.

“I see her as very formidable,” said the Democratic source, who is close to Vale. “She’s a pro-choice, progressive woman from the southeast. She knows people who are active in Democratic fundraising and would have a big war chest. She would be a very, very interesting candidate.”

Vale declined to comment Tuesday.

A Haverford resident, Vale was a longtime managing director at Morgan Stanley. She has worked as a U.S. Senate staffer and was also an aide to former Senator Bill Bradley’s presidential campaign in 2000. Like other Democrats from the southeast, she could be a political asset to the party’s early gubernatorial front-runner, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.

“If the nominee were someone like Onorato,” the Democrat close to her said, “she would fill in a lot of holes for him, geographically, ideologically and in terms of gender.”

Former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel remains the only Democrat who is definitely running.

•Also on pa2010.com: Saidel’s head start in Lt. Gov. race growing formidable

Wanted: Democrats for Lt. Gov.