So Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rick Perry were rallying supporters yesterday for the primary they’ll eventually have for Governor, which I’m already sick to death of since it seems like it’s been going on since 2005. It’s a whole lot more heat than light – Bailouts! Abortion! Positive happy warriors! – and I don’t imagine that will change much in the next 13 months. It is interesting that KBH has lined up as much establishment support against a sitting Governor who hasn’t been indicted for anything as she has, and it’s interesting as Evan and BOR note that some of these folks owe Rick Perry for a cushy appointment. But expect there to be a lot of stories almost exactly like this one as we go along, because there really isn’t much else to say. Neither one sees any need to change anything; both of them will spend vast amount of time burnishing their own credentials and pooh-pooh-ing their opponent’s. Clip ‘n’ save for later, it’s all the same from here on out.
Two other points to note. One is on the inevitable question of KBH’s immediate future.
Although Hutchison has said she plans to step down from the Senate before her term is up in 2012, she said she hasn’t decided when that will be. It will be no earlier than the end of this year, but she could wait until the 2010 election, she said.
I’m telling you. No special election till 2011, if at all. She’s not going anywhere unless she’s forced to do so.
And on the matter of whether or not she really means it this time:
Asked if there’s any reason at this point for news organizations to say she’s not running for governor, Hutchison replied: “No.”
“I will have a formal announcement this summer, but in our state you have to file legal papers before you can ever ask someone to support you for governor.” She started a gubernatorial campaign committee in early December, saying then she was exploring a run for governor.
She said today: “I thought the signals were pretty clear, but it takes some people longer” to understand.
Maybe the fact that people have thought she’d be running for Governor in every election since 2002 has a little something to do with that. I’m just saying.