CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) -- Swooping into traditionally Democratic territory in South Texas, Republican Gov. Rick Perry praised tea party activists and urged straight-ticket GOP voting as polls opened statewide.

His Democratic rival, Bill White, also took advantage of the first day of early voting in Texas by holding get-out-the-vote rallies Monday in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas.

Both candidates started the day by voting for themselves, then asked voters to do the same.