One of the more interesting — and potentially, in debate context, entertaining — rivalries of the 2012 race is the emerging tension between Ron Paul and Rick Perry. The two Texans have sniped at each other a bit in recent days and in a memo this morning, Paul adviser Jesse Benton suggests that the zingers against Perry's conservative bona fides are a preview of more to come:

Governor Perry, let me be clear: It is not that you supported Al Gore that worries us.


It is that you supported Hillary Clinton's health care plan.

You pushed for federal bailout and stimulus funds.

You support welfare for illegal immigrants.

You tried to forcibly vaccinate12-year-old girls against sexually transmitted diseases by executive order.

You raised taxes twice.

And, state debt has more than doubled in your tenure as governor, pushing Texas to the brink of our constitutional debt limit.

It's that you supported ALL of these bad ideas that are inconsistent with how most Republicans understand conservatism, yet you now try to swagger your way into the Tea Party.