When Perry embraces SB1070-esque legislation for his state, and perhaps starts building The Great Wall of Texas, he’ll have more Conservative street cred.
You know that the RINO Joe Strauss has more to say bout such things than Perry. In Texas the Speaker of the House has more power than the governor. Right now Strauss is trying to strong-arm his way back into the speakership. Republicans have an almost 2/3 majority in the House, with 99/150 seats and about 25 new pubbies on board. But the Dims are solidly behind him and he needs only about 25 Republican votes to win.