Western state business leaders were predictably lukewarm about most of the five new Democratic attorneys-general ushered in by November's mid-term election.

But two newcomers have already garnered strong business support.

Dustin McDaniel of Arkansas and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada were both endorsed by their local Chambers of Commerce and are expected to cooperate on key business issues.

In McDaniel's case he benefitted strongly from a popular pro-business Democratic predecessor, Mike Beebe, who is now governor-elect.

Arkansas Chamber of Commerce executive vice president Kenneth R. Hall said both men are non-partisan in the mold of old-style "dixiecrat" politicians still popular in Arkansas, and McDaniel won the Chamber's endorsement.

"We see very few partisan issues here compared with other states," Hall said.

Cortez Masto came out on top with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce because of her strong experience in both law and politics, plus the fact that her original opponent dropped out early in the race.

"We wanted somebody who could interface with other branches of government to move forward key legislation and build relationships," said Christina Dugan, vice president of public affairs at the Chamber, on its endorsement of Cortez Masto.

Other Democrat attorney-general winners weren't exactly the favored choices of business.

Jerry Brown of California, Paul Morrison of Kansas and Gary King of New Mexico gained neither solid support nor clear opposition from state- or city-based business groups.

The Kansas Chamber of Commerce endorsed sitting Republican Attorney General Phill Kline because of his record of support for a range of pro-business issues. But Kline was thumped by Morrison after he ran a socially-conservative campaign that overshadowed his business and law-reform achievements.

The Chamber said during Kline's term as attorney general he helped steer through legislation restricting obesity and asbestos class action lawsuits.

"He was a very strong advocate of the business community once he was elected," said Marlee Carpenter, vice president of government affairs at the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. She declined to comment on whether Kline's campaign focus on opposition to abortion contributed to his defeat.

Carpenter said the Chamber "will look forward to working with Paul Morrison on a range of business issues." She noted that as a county district attorney Morrison had prosecuted some cases that indicate he may have a pro-business slant.

That was more than the California Chamber of Commerce was prepared to say about the most famous of incoming attorneys-general, former California governor Jerry Brown.

The Chamber did not endorse a candidate in the attorney general race and spokesman Vince Sollitto declined to offer any assessment of Brown's possible impact on California business.

But Brown will inherit several high-profile anti-corporate lawsuits and investigations from predecessor Bill Lockyer, now state treasurer-elect, including ones against auto makers, drug companies and the Hewlett-Packard board of directors.

Political analysts already are speculating that Brown is preparing to serve as an Eliot Spitzer-type "crusading" attorney general in California.

In New Mexico, incoming Attorney General Gary King, who easily defeated Republican opponent Jim Bibb, got a slightly warmer welcome from greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Terri Cole.

"We expect the King administration to be transparent and open and operate from a non-partisan perspective." Cole said.

As a positive, she also pointed out that King's record in the New Mexico legislature indicates "he approached everything on its merits and then decided."

She also said the Chamber wants an attorney general "that doesn't legislate but focuses on interpreting the law, and based on our experience with him he will do that."

King also carries a reputation as a politician who forges bipartisan partnerships and coalitions, a factor common to other incoming attorneys general who gain business support.

McDaniel in Arkansas and Masto in Nevada both won the "bipartisan" plaudit from their respective Chambers of Commerce.

Not a label that sits easily on Jerry Brown.