Rick Perry will never be a national politician, period. It's only a result of the the Texas Democratic party's ineptitude that he has made it this far. Not that it matters much, his own party is about to sweep the rug out from under him...although, I don't know why Hutchinson would rather be the ultimately irrelevant governor of Texas than a senior U.S. senator.
She wants to be gov of Texas because it is irrelevant. She's trying to ease into retirement and move back to Texas. Governor of Texas is a nice, slow part-time gig that will allow her to adjust into retirement.
I suppose that's a valid theory. It's not like there is another Lloyd Bentsen on the Democratic side to sweep in and steal the seat from the Republicans in 2012. Rick Noriega is about as good a candidate as the state Democrats could field and well...he just got beat down by Big Bad John...
They seem to have a decent chance with Bill White.