Rep. Barton wants appointment to Hutchison's seat

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tx.) has not yet officially resigned her seat in pursuit of the governor's mansion, but that has not stopped at least one lawmaker from actively lobbying for her job.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tx.) announced Thursday he believed he was best suited to fill Hutchison's seat -- and that he has already asked Gov. Rick Perry (R) to consider appointing him as Hutchison's interim replacement.

"I have asked to go speak to the governor about an appointment, but he has not encouraged it," the congressman said Thursday. "He just said he'd be happy to sit down with me and talk about it. I think I'd be a good candidate."

Unfortunately for Barton, who has long hoped to run for the Senate, the governor's office was not exactly floored by his self-nomination.

"There is no vacancy, so it's not something the governor is considering," Gov. Perry's spokeswoman tersely said Thursday.

Hutchison likely will not resign until December, her campaign has previously stated.

At the same time, a handful of Democrats and Republicans are preparing their own campaigns for the state's special election, the date for which the governor has not yet set. Among them are Railroad Commission Chair Michael Williams and current Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) -- both strong candidates.

But Barton, only one of two candidates to acknowledge he was seeking an appointment, has not yet established a Senate election Web site, much less drafted campaign staff and formed a campaign committee, the Dallas Morning News reported on Friday

"I'm serious enough to still be thinking about it," Barton said.