FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- A Texas congressman at the GOP National Convention has urged Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison not to challenge Gov. Rick Perry in the 2006 Texas governor's race.
Republican Rep. Joe Barton made the comment to a Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter as tensions between other two GOP office holders flared Tuesday at the New York convention.
"I think we've got two great public servants -- one in Washington, one in Austin," he told the newspaper. "Texas needs all the help it can get, so my recommendation would be for Rick to stay in Austin and Kay to stay in Washington."
Hutchison has never silenced continuing speculation that she might oppose Perry for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, another Republican, is also seen as a possible challenger.
The flareup Tuesday came over comments Hutchison made about the state failing to use its allocation of federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program. Perry's office said the comment was misleading.
