Schieffer Exit From Texas Gov Race Opens Door For Bill White

We've been spending a lot of time lately talking about the impending Republican collision in Texas between Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Gov. Rick Perry for Perry's job. The two meet in the March 2 primary.

We haven't spent as much ink on the Democrats. But the latest develoment changes that.

One of the Democrats running for governor, attorney Tom Schieffer, dropped out of the race Monday. The problem Schieffer, the brother of CBS' Bob Schieffer, had in garnering party support is that he was close to George W. Bush — their business ties go back to when Bush ran the Texas Rangers and continued when President Bush appointed Schieffer ambassador to Australia and Japan.

When Schieffer withdrew his candidacy yesterday, he suggested that Houston Mayor Bill White run in his stead. The popular White was an announced candidate for the Senate seat that Hutchison will voluntarily give up sometime in 2010 (originally the target date was 2009). But White said yesterday that he would consider switching to the gubernatorial contest.

It's a nomination that seems increasingly worth having, notes Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News:

The succession of events underscored a growing belief among some Democratic leaders that Perry will defeat U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and become the Republican nominee. Democrats believe Perry's hard-right appeal to the party's populist wing could make him susceptible to a general election challenge by a moderate, business-friendly Democrat.

Hutchison is staying in the Senate while running for governor. She trails Perry in the polls and has struggled to develop a clear message against the Republican governor, who has wooed GOP primary voters by trumpeting states' rights, the possibility of secession and warnings that the Obama administration is taking the country toward socialism.

Democrats haven't elected a governor since Ann Richards won in 1990; four years later she was unseated by Bush.

Dems already in the gov race include rancher Hank Gilbert, humorist Kinky Friedman, educator Felix Alvarado and hair-care magnate Farouk Shami. White would presumably be the frontrunner should he enter the race, which he is expected to do on Dec. 4.