The good ship KBH For Governor 2010 has set sail.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison today launched a committee to explore a run for governor in 2010.

Hutchison's paperwork, filed at the Texas Ethics Commission, names Allan "Bud" Shivers Jr. of Austin as her campaign treasurer. Fetch the one-pager here.

Although the paperwork doesn't mean Hutchison has officially declared she's running, it allows her to raise money in anticipation of challenging Gov. Rick Perry, a fellow Republican.

Early chatter: She'll endeavor to raise millions of dollars by the end of the 2009 legislative session so that her state kitty looks as strong as the one held by Perry. The unconfirmed word is she's going to transfer $1 million up front from her federal campaign treasury to get the state effort rolling. And the special twist, for her, is that she may legally raise money during the session. State law forbids state elected officials including Perry, from doing so during the session.

UPDATE: Hutchison issued a statement mid-morning in which she reminded that she's not yet a candidate. She said she's transferring $1 million from her federal kitty to her state account "and will take further steps as they become appropriate.

For what it's worth, I've come around to the notion that Hutchison won't resign from the Senate until and unless she absolutely has to. That may mean not until she's won election as Governor, which in turn means no special election until 2011. She's basically got a free shot at this, unlike 2006 when she had to choose between Governor and re-election to the Senate, and she's stepped down from leadership positions in the Senate. I think if she does resign at all, it will be later rather than sooner. But who knows with KBH?

UPDATE: According to Miya, Mayor White will announce his intentions next week.

UPDATE: Burka thinks it's sooner rather than later for KBH. Like I said, who knows with her?