AUSTIN, Texas — By the time Texas Democrats stop accumulating long shots for governor, I won't be shocked if Austin's Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn dives in.
Hank Gilbert, the party's 2006 choice for agriculture commissioner, is the latest figure to say he's bidding for governor.
Humorist Kinky Friedman could commit next.
But Friedman's political resuscitation might not stem the flow of candidates.
Instead, there may need to be a face-to-face (perhaps Facebook-to-Facebook) exchange between two powerhouse Democrats chasing the U.S. Senate seat that Kay Bailey Hutchison has said she'll resign in October or November.
My take: Only such a huddle will cause the Democratic field for governor to settle out.
And I wouldn't be surprised if that yet-to-happen chat between Houston Mayor Bill White and John Sharp, the former state comptroller, shakes out right about the time former Fort Worth legislator Tom Schieffer tires of defending his past votes for buddy, business partner and Republican George W. Bush for governor and president.
I'm speculating that Schieffer will decide not to run for governor after all — not that Schieffer has dropped hints.
Asked what might cause Schieffer to bow out, his spokesman, Clay Robison, said: "Nothing that I could think of."
My scenario: Sharp and White, recognizing that they're courting like-minded voters in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat statewide since 1994, ultimately will face up to the wisdom of one of them stepping aside.
Whoever dares leave the Senate fray will be celebrated by Democratic activists for helping the other fellow survive amid numerous Republican Senate candidates, perhaps including Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, whose personal wealth means he wouldn't have to worry much about corralling donations.
And because of their established appeal — Sharp as a warhorse who weathered statewide losses in 1998 and 2002, White as the thrice-elected mayor of the state's biggest city in the county that accounted for 15 percent of the state's 2008 votes for president — the guy who slide-steps to governor will be embraced as the frontrunner.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said he hasn't talked to either man about avoiding a head-to-head competition. But Doggett, the Democratic Senate nominee in 1984, would love it if one shifted.
"In a special (Senate) election, it would be really unfortunate to see our forces divided," Doggett said. "And so I certainly wouldn't give up on the possibility that one might choose a different course. But I am not at all certain which one it would be. You could make a strong case that either of them would be an effective candidate."
For governor.
W. Gardner Selby writes for the Austin American-Statesman. E-mail: wgselby(at)statesman.com.