How does Specter's switch effect KBH's strategy

Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has maintained for some time now she had no intentions of resigning her Senate seat to return to Texas to campaign for her party's gubernatorial nomination, even though it is widely believed she plans to run for governor in 2010. By not resigning, she was allowing Gov. Hair to solidify his standing with the fringe right wing that probably will decide the nominee. The reason she said she didn't want to resign was because she didn't want to create a situation in which a special election would be needed that could result in a Democrat winning, thus giving Democrats a filibuster-busting 60-40 advantage in Senate membership.

But it has appeared for some time now that Al Franken is going to be declared the winner in the Minnesota Senate race, making him the 59th Democrat in the upper chamber. Then yesterday, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania announced he was switching party affiliations, making him the 60th Democrat.

So is there now any pressing need for KBH to stay on in Washington? I believe if she wins the Republican nomination she cruises to election as governor. But I also believe she has absolutely no chance of winning that nomination unless she returns to Texas immediately to begin re-positioning the GOP in this state.