Debra Medina, take comfort in the words of Cat Stevens — "The first cut is the deepest." Especially if the cut is about 9/11 truthers.

Rick Perry has 49 percent; Kay Bailey Hutchison has 27 percent and Debra Medina has 19 percent, according to a new survey done for the Texas Credit Union League. On the Democratic side, Bill White got 51 percent to Farouk Shami's 19 percent.

It's not every campaign rally where volunteers checking your bag at the door ask if you're carrying a concealed weapon. Then again, not every rally features Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, Ted Nugent, Dan Patrick, and hordes of tearful, exuberant realtors, homeschoolers, farmers, and like-minded Washington, D.C. haters.

Kay Bailey Hutchison's preference for private jets is the latest barb in a back-and-forth over which Republican gubernatorial candidate lives a lusher lifestyle.