TOM BENNING | The Dallas Morning News

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Cornyn called Texas only “marginally” Republican this morning, less than a week after a primary that drew the most GOP voters in at least 30 years.

Cornyn offered that analysis of the Texas political landscape as he fielded questions about the possibility of a special election in the event Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns before her full term ends in 2012.

“Texas is still a marginally red state, although that will be tested by Bill White, who is a serious contender for governor,” he told reporters.

White, the former Houston mayor, won the Democratic nomination for governor in a landslide, and a Rasmussen poll taken afterward showed him trailing Gov. Rick Perry by only six percentage points.

That was apparently enough to grab the attention of Cornyn, who also made the case for Perry.

“I know Gov. Perry well enough and I’ve seen him run campaigns well enough to know that Bill White is going to have his hands full,” Cornyn said.

Hutchison’s 51-30 loss to Perry in the Republican primary set off the chatter about her plans and the possibility of a special election. She said previously that she plans to resign when the health care debate is resolved; 10 days ago she said she expects to resign by November.

She has yet to speak publicly since returning to Washington last Thursday. Both Cornyn and Perry said last week they hope she serves out her full term.

Cornyn, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said today he still has not talked to his Senate colleague about her plans.

“I haven’t negotiated with her, but I made it clear that I would like her to stick around as long as she can, up to and including the end of her term,” he said.

Last week, Cornyn said he was “pretty confident” that Republicans would retain the seat in a special election, but added, “Why go through that uncertainty? Why go through that expense?”