Governor Bill White?

Please let it be so!! The Tribune first reported that Tom Sheiffer is dropping out of the Governors race. Via the Texas Tribune:

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Schieffer is getting out of the race this afternoon, sources said Monday morning. "He just couldn't put it together," said one.

"I can't comment," said Clay Robison, Schieffer's spokesman. Schieffer didn't immediately return calls. A short time later, they called a press conference for 3 p.m. this afternoon.

Houston Mayor Bill White will "have a statement" after Schieffer's press conference, said spokeswoman Katy Bacon; she wouldn't answer questions about whether White is getting into the governor's race if Schieffer gets out.

And from the Statesman:

A source inside one of the Democratic gubernatorial campaigns says that state party chairman Boyd Richie called a summit of the Democratic governor candidates (and candidates only) for 2:30 p.m. today at a Dallas law firm. The stated purpose early this month was to talk out guidelines for how the party would be involved and to make sure everyone was going to be aboard to endorse the eventual nominee. But this source speculates that this is some kind of gambit for Richie to blow everyone’s minds with Bill White as the candidate in favor. Same source says every candidate is committed to coming.

R.G. Ratcliff is also reporting that more than one reliable source is confirming White is jumping into the Governor's race.

Fort Worth businessman Tom Schieffer is expected to drop out of the Texas governor's race later today, and Houston Mayor Bill White then will join the fray, according to a reliable source.

We now have a second reliable source telling us that White's switch to the governor's race will occur.

Governor Bill White, doesn't that have a nice ring to it? As one of my politico friends just said to me in an email, "Chronicle has sources saying Bill White will announce for Guv today? Hear that? It was county wides cheering."

No doubt about it, if Kay insists on dithering on whether or not she will resign , why not have Bill White jump over and strike while the iron is hot. The longer he waits, the more money he spends and the less likely his donors and supporters will stay enthusiastic about his campaign.

Watch this latest video of Bill White talking to Evan Smith of the Tribune, lots of discussion about the Governor's race and Bill talking about education.

UPDATE: Miya Shay via her twitter says @miyashay: Just interviewed @billwhitefortx, did not deny governor rumors, says he will make announcement this afternoon.

Also via @brandigrissom (Texas Tribune): State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh endorses Democrat Bill White for governor. From the Shapleigh endorsement:

Shapleigh, who has been the speculation of many gubernatorial candidate conversations, said he was "very excited" to endorse White.

"Under his proven, responsible leadership, our great state can finally deal with the challenges of our times," Shapleigh said.

Looks like the dominoes are falling in place in anticipation of Bill's presser at 3:30

UPDATE 2:

Burka weighs in:

I think White would be in a much stronger position in a governor’s race. The obvious reason is that it’s a general election. Democrats will have somebody they can rally behind for the first time since Ann Richards.

If White can keep the race focused on state issues, he can win. The Republican base alone can’t win a statewide election.

I like what I am seeing right now.