ORLANDO, Florida - September 18, 2011 - Texas Gov. Rick Perry so far has positioned himself as the conservative alternative to establishmentarian Mitt Romney and freedom fighter Dr. Ron Paul in the Republican presidential race.

But if last week's debate in Tampa is any guide, Perry can expect flak from the right on illegal immigration, a Texas vaccination policy, and perhaps Afghanistan, when he and the rest of the GOP field return to Florida this week.

The eight leading Republican candidates will be in Orlando for a nationally televised debate on Thursday, a Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, and a Republican Party of Florida-sponsored straw poll on Saturday.

Perry and Romney, the leading Republican candidates in most national and Florida polls, have clashed in two debates this month over Perry's characterization of Social Security as a "Ponzi scheme" and "monstrous lie" for younger workers because of its long-term financing issues. (It is interesting to note that candidate Ron Paul was the first and loudest to characterize Social Security as a Ponzi scheme).

The Social Security fight puts Perry in the same position as many conservatives and Republicans who have been accused by Democrats in general-election campaigns of seeking to dismantle the New Deal program.

But the Tampa debate highlighted other issues where Perry differs with fellow conservatives.

On illegal immigration, where many GOP candidates favor building more barriers along the U.S. border with Mexico, Perry said a massive fence "is just not reality".

Perry drew some boos from the audience of Tea Party activists for supporting in-state tuition benefits for children of illegal aliens in Texas. That position is sure to displease immigration hard-liners, an important component of the GOP electorate in Florida and elsewhere.