You'll hear Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst mentioned if you start a conversation about the next governor's race, but the stars are aligning to send him to Washington, if he's interested.

Nobody wants to run against Dewhurst in a Republican primary, even if they think they can beat him. He's got money, a political base, and it'd be an expensive and maybe harmful adventure for any opponent.

Risky.

For all those reasons, Gov. Rick Perry, who is now saying he'll seek four more years in 2010, would rather see Dewhurst stay out of the race. And U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who's talking openly about running for governor in 2010 — Perry or no Perry — would rather see Dewhurst stay out, too.

Add Attorney General Greg Abbott and Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, each of whom has expressed interest either privately (Abbott) or publicly (Patterson) in running for lieutenant governor. They'd rather not run against Dewhurst, who has incumbency on his side in addition to that money thing.

If you squint and use a little imagination, that's four potential endorsements for a Senate run if and when Hutchison gives up the seat.

It would ease the competition for Perry and Hutchison, and clear the way for Abbott and/or Patterson. Bringing any of those onboard a Dewhurst candidacy would chill potential competitors in the GOP who might otherwise want to run for the Senate seat.

What's more, Dewhurst could set the table for his and other contests. Declaring for Senate before anyone else would raise the stakes for campaign donors, who have to deal with Dewhurst as Lite Guv during the 2009 legislative session. Don't want to oppose a fellow with a gavel unless you must.

It could box Hutchison a bit, too, which would make Perry happy. She's already said she won't seek another term, so the seat opens in 2012 for sure. If Dewhurst jumped in this year, or hinted strongly at it, she'd be on the spot to state her plans. That doesn't mean she'd have to say, just that everyone in the joint would be asking about it all the time.

The hardest sell, in spite of some self interest in a Dewhurst run, would be the governor. He's never named a favorite in the race for Senate if Hutchison were to resign. When Phil Gramm was talking about leaving the Senate a few years ago, Perry wanted to appoint Tony Garza. Gramm wanted U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla for the job. He didn't quit, and the appointment wasn't made. Garza is now U.S. Ambassador to Mexico — out of position for a Texas race. Bonilla lost his seat to Henry Cuellar.

Perry hasn't stated a preference for Hutchison's replacement. Dewhurst has some selling to do if he wants the gig.