Midland GOP Chairwoman Sue Brannon told the Houston Chronicle that Hutchison recently confided to her that she is "worn out going back and forth" from Dallas to Washington, D.C. "She just said, 'Oh, Susan, I'm ready to come back to Texas and be with my children,' " Brannon said.

Brannon said she told Hutchison that she should stay in the Senate where her seniority would do the state some good. She said she also told Hutchison that she should not challenge Perry because that would be divisive and could hurt the Republican Party.

"She said, 'I don't want to hear that,' " Brannon said.

Hutchison and her husband, Ray, have two adopted children, both age 3.

Hutchison spokesman David Beckwith said the senator never had such a conversation with Brannon or anyone else.

Beckwith said Hutchison lives with her family in Dallas and commutes to Washington to work. He said she often is able to be in Dallas up to five days a week and at other times brings her children to Washington. He said a nanny takes care of the children when the senator cannot be there.

- posted @ 8:42 PM permalink