U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison kicked off a daylong tour of North Texas on Tuesday morning with a stop at Ruby’s Diner on the Square.

Hutchison is seeking to top her opponents, political newcomer Debra Medina and Gov. Rick Perry, for the right to be the Republican gubernatorial nominee in the November general election.

Denton County Farm Bureau officials teamed up with the diner to offer a discounted breakfast buffet Tuesday morning.

“The Farm Bureau has done a great job trying to keep prices down. [Today] I’ll be talking about private property rights and the importance of keeping our farms together,” Hutchison said, “and making sure that we have a governor who is going to keep our farms together and save private property rights and not let anybody’s private land be taken unless it’s really a public purpose and necessary and then to get a fair price.”

Farm Bureau board member Tommy Calvert told Hutchison that he and several other members were multi-generational farmers and ranchers in Denton County.

“It’s important for me to be able to hold on to my property so I can pass it on to my grandchildren some day,” he said. “So property rights are very important to us to be able to produce the food necessary to feed our nation.”

“Well, trust me to do it,” Hutchison replied.

She spent several minutes shaking hands, speaking to voters and answering questions on such topics as property rights and higher-education tuition, noting that affordability and encouragement are needed for students to go to college.

A woman expressed her concern about government spending to the senator.

Hutchison proclaimed in response to be the real conservative in the race.

“If we’re going to have fiscal responsibility in Texas, I am the one who will do it,” she said. “I am the conservative in the race. I am the one who has cut spending. I am the one who has cut taxes. What I’m trying to do is show Gov. Perry’s record is not what he says.”

Hutchison mentioned spending increases and business taxes instituted during the incumbent governor’s tenure.

“It is time for a real conservative to be elected in Texas,” she said.

While she did not mention Medina directly, when asked if she was hoping for a runoff in the primary election, Hutchison said, “I am talking to people about what’s important to Texas. What happens, happens.”

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com.