U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's decision to keep her Senate seat and run for governor has some wondering if the phrase, 'must be present to win' will hold true.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney will be in Texas Tuesday to campaign for Hutchison. But, many wonder if she will be there.
"She's going to do everything in her power to try to get back, but the Senate schedule is still up in the air right now, and if there is a health care vote, of course she'll stay in D.C.," Hutchison spokesperson Jennifer Baker said.
Hutchison's decision to stay in Washington and fight health care and cap and trade has Gov. Rick Perry's people, once again, tying the senator to Washington ways.
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Senate Seat
News 8's Karina Kling has more on the senator's decision not to resign before the Republican primary.
 
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While the governor boasts of his commitment the race signaled by his presence in Texas, his campaign staff wouldn't return calls Tuesday to grant News 8 an interview.
"Governor Perry so far has controlled the narrative, and [Hutchison] has not controlled the narrative, and here she has this really remarkable event, and she's not able to control the staging of it," political commentator Harvey Kronberg said.
Kronberg said Hutchison is fighting on two fronts, and with the decision not to resign her Senate seat, she's ceded some ground to Perry.
"She just felt it was too important to leave it to an interim senator who was appointed during the middle of a political storm," Baker said.
It's a political storm that will not just affect the gubernatorial race, but candidates up and down the ballot, who, until this past weekend, thought they were about to turn a new page in their own political future.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney will be in Houston at the Houston Hobby Airport Tuesday to endorse Hutchison.
If Hutchison has to remain in Washington for important votes, Cheney and other supporters will campaign on her behalf.
