HOUSTON — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has picked up the endorsement of former Secretary of State James Baker in her bid to unseat incumbent Gov. Rick Perry.

Baker, speaking to a Houston Republican club Tuesday, said he's supported Perry in the past, but thinks the governor's nine years in office is enough. He also said he believes Hutchison has the best chance of keeping the Texas governor's job in the GOP's hands in a race this November against former Houston Mayor Bill White.

Baker, prominent in the Reagan and Bush administrations, said he expects White to emerge as the Democratic nominee for governor and be a formidable challenger.

A spokesman for the Perry campaign did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press.

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