As Texas Gov. Rick Perry surges to the front of the polls on a message of fiscal discipline, some conservatives are coming out of the woodwork to claim the governor's track record on spending is nothing to get behind.

The criticism is an example of the heightened scrutiny Perry can expect as he goes from water-tester to front-runner in the Republican presidential race. In statements and web videos, groups have sharply questioned Perry's record on fiscal discipline, pointing among other things to a massive road construction project as well as his residence in a rental mansion estimated to cost taxpayers $10,000 per month.