A Texas Senator, Now a Challenger Lagging in Polls JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr. February 20, 2010 DALLAS Just a year ago, many Republican leaders considered Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison to be the odds-on favorite to become the next governor of Texas. A popular lawmaker from the old-guard Republican establishment, she was seen as someone who could widen the partys appeal after the setbacks it suffered during the 2008 national election.