TIFFIN, Iowa — Hours after a Perry supporter categorized the Mormon religion as a “cult,” Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he does not hold the same view.

Asked if he thought Mormonism was a cult as he walked out of the Jefferson County BBQ in Tifflin, Iowa, Perry said, “No, I already answered that.”

Earlier in the day, a Perry supporter, Robert Jeffress, pastor of a Baptist megachurch in Dallas, told reporters at the Values Voters Summit in Washington, D.C., that Mormonism was a “cult,” though he did not mention Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney, a Mormon, by name.

Jeffress expressed similar sentiments in 2007 when he said about Romney, “Even though he talks about Jesus as his Lord and savior, he is not a Christian. Mormonism is not Christianity. Mormonism is a cult.”

The Perry press team told ABC News the organizers of the Values Voters Summit selected Jeffress to introduce the Texas governor. But Politico reported that the Perry campaign did approve him as a speaker.

Gordon Hinz, a voter from Iowa City, Iowa, said he likes both Perry and Romney, but thought Perry should clearly lay out his beliefs about Mormonism, though he doesn’t think the religion issue will bring Romney down.

“To me, it wouldn’t be a factor, but there’s always someone out there to try and run them down,” Hinz said. “But I don’t think it’ll be a factor in Iowa.”

Perry’s speech to the Jefferson County GOP touched on his normal themes of the economic success of Texas, but he also shared his views on “class warfare” being thrown around in politics.

“The idea of class warfare is, on its face, very resentful to America,” Perry said before a crowd of around 250 Iowa voters. “Americans want, they don’t want a handout. They want to be able to work and take care of their family. There’s nothing more important than having the dignity of a job, and I happen to think that anyone who tries to draw or create a wedge between Americans using class warfare really doesn’t understand how Americans think and feel.”

Perry discussed the need to institute stronger economic standards in the country in order to ensure other nations, such as China, know the United States is capable of and willing to engage in competition.

“I don’t think China particularly respects America, and I don’t think they respect America because we are not economically strong,” Perry said.

Perry attempted to make his case on immigration and border security, never mentioning controversial legislation he approved that provides in-state tuition to illegal immigrants in Texas. He touted Texas’ efforts in securing the border and passing a voter ID law during the last legislative session.

“For a decade, I live it every day,” Perry said of border security. “I understand exactly what’s going on on that border.”

“I vetoed legislation that would give drivers licenses to illegal aliens,” Perry continued. “We passed that this last session, the legislature in Texas, protecting one of the most important rights that people have in this country from fraud - and that is our vote.”

Perry, who is on his fourth trip to Iowa since announcing his candidacy, reminded the crowd of the importance Iowans hold in electing the next president.

“I’m kind of reminded that pundits don’t choose presidents,” he said. “People of Iowa do.”

The Texas governor will continue to campaign in Iowa this weekend, making stops in Sioux City, Orange City and Spencer.