State governors, regardless of their party affiliation, are not using the same terminology in their holiday greetings cards this year.

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A survey done by Stateline.org found 36 of the 50 governors -- 18 Democrats and 18 Republicans -- have sent out good wishes for a nameless happy holiday.

Ten governors -- two Democrats and eight Republicans -- were explicit in wishing the joy of "Christmas," the survey found.

The governors of Minnesota, Nevada and New Mexico aren't sending official cards. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, hasn't decided whether to send one because of disruptions caused by Hurricane Katrina, the survey said.

The most prolific card sender is Robert Ehrlich, the Republican governor of Maryland, who is mailing out 40,000 greetings ahead of an expected tough re-election bid. The shortest mailing list belongs to John Hoeven, the Republican governor of North Dakota, with 287 going to members of the North Dakota National Guard on active duty in Iraq and Germany or headed to Afghanistan.