Police arrest alleged Hutchison stalker

Dallas police have charged a man with a felony for allegedly stalking Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), the most senior female in Senate GOP leadership and a potential vice presidential nominee.

According to Capitol Hill sources, the man had previously threatened Hutchison, prompting her to arrange for security detail from the U.S. Capitol Police, which accompanied her to Dallas during Congress’s two-week recess in March. The security detail helped apprehend the man, who was arrested by Dallas police outside of her home on March 21.

{mosads}The man has been charged with a third-degree felony for allegedly stalking the senator, according to Lt. Vernon Hale, a spokesman for the Dallas Police Department.

Hale would not release the name of the man arrested, answer questions about whether the man was still being held or provide further details. Those who are convicted of a third-degree felony often face six to 18 months in jail.

Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a spokeswoman for the Capitol Police, referred an inquiry about the matter to the Dallas Police Department, which she confirmed made the arrest.

“We don’t discuss the security [details] of our members,” Schneider said, referring to the officers said to have accompanied the senator to Dallas.

The senator’s office declined to comment about the arrest.

Hutchison heads the Republican Policy Committee, which makes her the fourth highest-ranking senator in the 49-member GOP conference. Some analysts say if presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) chose Hutchison as a running mate, she could help pull support from female voters in November, particularly if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) wins the Democratic presidential nomination.

Hutchison, who has said she is not interested in the vice presidential job, is actively considering a run for Texas governor in 2010.