Hutchison Out of Leadership Race

The GOP's judgment of KBH's latest moves? Not conservative enough. Hutchison has stepped aside in the scramble to fill the void left by Trent Lott, clearing the way for others to move up to the number 3 spot in the GOP leadership.

This makes political sense, since the rumblings were that Senate conservatives were unhappy with some recent votes and stances by the senior senator from Texas. By dropping out rather than forcing a contentious race and possibly losing, Hutchison is once again donning the mantel of Ultimate Republican Team Player. This could have implications for her if she ever needed to appeal to non-Republicans as something other than a total party loyalist.

It is important to note, though, that Hutchison won't be moving up in the Senate leadership largely because Republicans in the Senate are dissatisfied with her votes on many recent items. Among those, SCHIP stands out:

Hutchison voted in October with Democrats to defy a veto threat by President Bush over a proposed $35 billion expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Hers was one of only two GOP votes to end a Republican filibuster of the legislation.

The Politico article will get you up to speed on the situation, and it bears watching: these things will have serious bearing on Texas politics in the next couple of years.