President George H.W. Bush to offer endorsement in Texas Senate race

Republicans in Texas are still jockeying for early position in the race to succeed to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), but a former president is already making his choice known.  

{mosads}Former President George H.W. Bush will endorse former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams at an event Monday afternoon.

The endorsement is an early boost for Williams, who has been running for the Senate seat for the better part of two years, and is likely to face a crowded Republican primary. 

The former president has remained active in Texas politics and is a longtime supporter of Hutchison. He endorsed Hutchison during her primary challenge to Gov. Rick Perry (R) this past year. After losing to Perry in a primary last fall, Hutchison announced last week that she would not seek reelection in 2012.  

Along with Williams, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) is expected to enter the contest and Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams (R) is seen as an early favorite of some Tea Party activists in the state.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) talked up the potential candidacies of Michael Williams and former Solicitor General Ted Cruz (R) in an email to supporters of his Senate Conservatives Fund last week.