Hutchison suggests retirement not so imminent

This should come as a surprise to no one, but it sounds like Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) might be easing off her statement that she would likely resign this month or next.

Appearing on WBAP-AM radio Tuesday morning, Hutchison suggested she might stay in office longer to give her party a crucial vote on key issues.

"I think it's important I do everything I can when there are such huge ideas, and I haven't been able to set that deadline," Hutchison said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Previously on that radio station, she suggested she would resign in October or November.

Hutchison's resignation date has little impact on when the special election will be. As long as she does so before her March gubernatorial primary, the special election will be held in May 2010. But with Hutchison, the "if" of whether she resigns will continue to be part of the equation, and pushing things back isn't helping candidates get along with their special election plans.