Here’s how I read Dan Branch’s decision to run for re-election, and it doesn’t take a whole lot of smarts to figure it out. The belief has taken hold among Republican wannabes that Hutchison is not going to resign her seat. Whether it is true or not, they believe it. Dewhurst believes it. That leaves Ted Cruz with an unobstructed shot at AG. He is a great lawyer, and great lawyers can become great AGs (John Hill, for one). But if he is as political as Greg Abbott is (why, sure, Perry wants the Willingham materials to be privileged, no problem), then it will be more of same.