AUSTIN, Texas – The question for voters in Tuesday’s Texas runoff isn’t whether a Republican will likely succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate, but what kind of Republican? The answer figures to reverberate far beyond the Lone Star State.

In an election representing one of the nation’s most vivid contrasts between the GOP establishment and the tea party, longtime Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst faces a major threat from former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz.

The candidates have few political or even ideological disagreements, but their race has turned increasingly nasty and expensive as they each claim to represent true conservative values while accusing each other of lying.