AUSTIN, Texas - U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is taking steps toward a run for Texas governor.

The Republican senator said in a news release Thursday that she's setting up a gubernatorial exploratory committee and transferring $1 million into it from her federal account.

Republican Gov. Rick Perry has already said he's in the race, so her moves could trigger a brutal campaign for the GOP nomination.

In a statement, Hutchison took several swipes at Perry, saying there's ``too much bitterness, too much anger, too little trust, too little consensus and too much infighting'' in Austin.

``The tone comes from the top,'' she said. ``Texans are looking for leadership and results.''

She noted that Texas is faring better economically than other states, ``but a positive future in not guaranteed.''

``It will take leaaders who look ahead to meet the economic and budgetary challenges that are coming.

The race is in 2010.