Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have found themselves on opposing sides in the Texas Senate GOP primary.

Each has previously made an endorsement: Perry for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst; Palin for former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz.

And now they are going to bat for their candidates. Perry is featured in a new TV ad released Monday by Dewhurst. Perry vouches for him on fiscal policy and adds, “Our country needs him, and so does Texas.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAre1nDGjj0&feature=relmfu

The Cruz camp also made news Sunday by releasing a robocall from Palin.

“Ted Cruz is a conservative we can trust,” she said on the 37-second message.

Former Dallas Mayor Top Leppert and former ESPN analyst Craig James are also vying for the nomination.

The question in the Texas GOP primary is not whether Dewhurst will win, but whether he will win with more than 50 percent of the vote and avoid a runoff. If a runoff occurs, the second-place finisher will go one on one against Dewhurst over the summer and the election will be held July 31.

It is a near-certainty that whoever wins the Republican primary will be the person to replace retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R).

Early voting has begun in the Lone Star State, and the primary date is May 29. Roll Call rates this race as Safe Republican.