Hutchison for governor? Good luck with that

The announcement of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison forming a gubernatorial exploratory committee isn't actually a surprising one.

Here are thoughts that come to mind when really thinking about a potential Kay Bailey run

1. Can she win a Republican primary? Hutchison would give the GOP a lock on the governor's mansion come November 2010 but could she beat Perry in a primary? Doubt it. Mr. 39 percent will appeal more to conservatives, and according to Jose Cuevas, is right on issues like border security, education, taxes and economic growth.
"He is right on life and the core values that important to hard core conservatives," Cuevas said. Could Hutchison be more right? Don't bet on it, Cuevas said.
And that change mantra spreading through the country didn't totally win over Texas, the last of the big state Republican strongholds. And conservatives want nothing more to keep it that way.
I also wonder if primary voters can pick a woman over a man in a battle between political heavyweights. Are there examples of GOP primary battles (for top of the ticket statewide positions) when that has happened?

2. Does she get painted as a Washington insider? Perry's biggest advantage in this race may be that Hutchison gets labeled as everything that is wrong with Washington. Big budgets, unfunded mandates, ineffective on border issues, Ike relief (or lack thereof), bailouts ... Republicans and Hutchison lost their way in Washington and Perry will remind voters of that over and over.

3. Who would take Hutchison's senate seat? Names like former Secretary of State Roger Williams and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst are bound to come up. Dewhurst in particular would be a fine choice, but we will still campaign for Michael Williams. Why state and national Republicans wouldn't target a Michael Williams for senate campaign is beyond me.
It's like Ernie Angelo told me, Michael Williams "deserves and has earned any position he would like to have in the state. ... I think he would be extraordinarily good senator on issues across the board."
Cuevas mentioned former Roger Williams, who most recently lead the Texas Victory 2008 effort. Some may remember Texas Victory 2008 as the group former Midlander K.C. Jones worked at as its political director.