Kirk Watson Won't Be Running for Governor [Not in 2010, Anyway]

Former Austin mayor and current State Senator Kirk Watson, who had been rumored to be planning a run for governor, has formally announced that he wants to stay in the State Senate. "There’s been a lot of speculation about my plans for the next election. Well, I’ve decided what I’m going to do. . . I will run for re-election to the Texas Senate in 2010," he said in a statement released this afternoon. So far the Democrats running for governor haven't captured as much attention as the GOP matchup between Perry and Hutchison; without Watson, the biggest name in the Dem race is Tom Schieffer (Bob's brother), with rumors of former Travis County AG Ronnie Earle or past Independent candidate for governor Kinky Friedman possibly running in the Democratic primary also. [Austin Chronicle]