Gov. Rick Perry said Monday that Kay Bailey Hutchison's decision to stay in the Senate until after their primary fight in March was a good one – since it was his idea.

"If there was ever a time to have full-time representation in the United States Senate, it would be right now," Perry said during a visit to Emmett J. Conrad High School in Dallas. "So I really appreciate her taking my advice and staying on the job full time."

Hutchison had considered resigning by the end of the year to focus on running for governor but said last week she would delay that to fight against Democratic health care and environmental legislation. Perry, who has questioned whether she would take him on for the Republican nomination for governor, has said that such a run would weaken the Texas GOP.

Hutchison spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said Perry could learn from the senator.

"It's unfortunate that Rick Perry would criticize Kay Bailey Hutchison for doing what's in the best interest of Texas," Baker said. "Perhaps Rick Perry should consider putting Texas before his own political ambitions more often."

As Perry worked the crowd at the school, he said his campaign is "going great. ... I've been out there for nine months."

The governor was at the school to announce the expansion of robotics programs. Later, he had a fund-raiser at a Dallas home.