Hutchinson may run for Governor

Asa Hutchinson said Friday he would consider running for governor of Arkansas now that he`s been passed over for the top spot at the Department of Homeland Security. Hutchinson has been the Homeland Security undersecretary in charge of borders and immigration since the department was created in 2003. He told The Associated Press Friday that he`s not going to limit his options and a run for governor would be "part of that consideration." President Bush picked former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik to replace the department`s first secretary, Tom Ridge. That fueled speculation that Hutchinson would leave. Hutchinson is a former Arkansas congressman, U-S attorney and chief of the Drug Enforcement Administration. He said his first priority would be to make sure there are no gaps in the nation`s security during the transition from Ridge to Kerik. Kerik still needs to be approved by Congress. Hutchinson said he was disappointed that he wasn`t chosen. Governor Mike Huckabee, who is a fellow Republican, said he thought it would have been logical to name Hutchinson. He also said Hutchinson would be a great candidate to replace him as governor. Huckabee is term limited out of running for re-election in 2006. His lieutenant governor, Win Rockefeller, said he`s still running for the position his late father, Winthrop Rockefeller, held more than 30 years ago. Rockefeller said Hutchinson`s decision won`t affect him, which could mean a high-profile Hutchinson-Rockefeller Republican primary in 2006.