Jeffress has long been controversial. Speaking to reporters on Friday, he repeated his view that Mormonism is a "cult" and that Mitt Romney is not a Christian. It's a contention he previously aired during the former Massachusetts governor's 2008 primary campaign -- that's why reporters were asking him about it, and why it shouldn't have been news to Perry's campaign.

But Perry appeared to welcome Jeffress' support as a means of validating his social-conservative credentials. His campaign later issued a statement saying the candidate does not believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a cult.

Perry didn't directly address the stance of his that's troubled many social conservatives, his attempt to mandate that preteen girls in Texas be vaccinated for human papillomavirus. Nor did he mention the immigration law he supported that has most bothered conservative voters -- the one that made some illegal immigrants eligible for in-state tuition at Texas universities.

But he showed up to talk to the values voters, and he looked at ease on stage. After a series of lackluster performances in GOP primary debates, that may be more important.

"As a border governor, I know firsthand the failure of our federal border policies," Perry said. "And I know the answer to those failures is not to grant amnesty to those who broke the law to come into this country."

He reiterated his call to leave open the option of sending U.S. troops into Mexico to fight the "narco-terrorists." He touted his signing of laws in Texas requiring photo ID to vote and denying driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, and the $400 million he's budgeted for state-level border security operations.

Perry also paid tribute to the importance of social issues, taking an implicit swipe at Romney along the way. "For some candidates, pro-life is an election year strategy to follow the prevailing political winds," he said. "To me, it's about the absolute principle that every human being is entitled to life."

One audience member, Catherine Van Slyke, said before Perry's speech, she wasn't sure she could support him. But afterward, she was sold -- because, she said, he looked tough.

"Of course he's not going to be perfect, like any person," said Van Slyke, a saleswoman from Carmel, Ind. "But when this country is going down like the Titanic, we need somebody with proven results and proven success."

Perry, she said, had a "grit and determination" that reminded her of Ronald Reagan, or another notable movie star.

"He's like Clint Eastwood," she said. "He'll come in with guns blazing, and you know he's got the authority to do what he says he's going to do."

Image credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

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