Republican candidate for Texas Governor Texas Gov. Rick Perry, right, gives a thumbs up as he sits down with fellow candidates Debra Medina, center, and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to start the Texas GOP gubernatorial debate at the Murchison Performing Arts Center at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Pool,LM Otero)