Robert Jeffress introduced Perry as a Christian alternative to Romney on Friday
Mitt Romney today,
addressing the attack on his faith by the pastor who
introduced Rick Perry at last week's Values Voters Summit:
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Tuesday called on his rival Texas Gov. Rick Perry to repudiate comments by Texas pastor Robert Jeffress, who endorsed Perry and called Mormonism as "a cult."
"I don't believe that kind of divisiveness based on religion has a place in this country," said Romney, who is Mormon. "I would call on Gov. Perry to repudiate the sentiments and remarks of that pastor."
Romney made his demand at an endorsement press conference with Chris Christie, who echoed Romney's position:
Christie backed Romney up, comparing Jeffress to those who protested Christie’s appointment of a Muslim judge.
“These type of religious matters have nothing to do with the quality of somebody's ability to lead," Christie said. “Any campaign that associates itself with that type of conduct is beneath the office of president of the United States.”
The Perry campaign, for its part, isn't agreeing to condemn the pastor, AP reports, although it did say on Friday that Perry does not believe Mormonism is a cult. Instead of condemning the pastor, Alexander Burns reports Perry aides are accusing Romney of trying to distract attention "from the the fact that Romneycare served as a blueprint for Obamacare."