From NPR:
“It almost falls into the category of cruel and unusual punishment, since many of us are still in recovery from the last election cycle. Still, the evidence is undeniable: The race for Texas governor is already under way — a full year ahead of the March 2010 primary.
In the far right corner of the ring is the Republican incumbent, Gov. Rick Perry. Perry has been Texas governor longer than any in history, since December of 2000, when former President Bush was elected to the White House. In the other corner — also to the right, just not as far — is Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. This is a 12-round fight between political heavyweights, splitting the Texas GOP in two. The loser’s career will almost assuredly be over.”