Rick Perry and other Texans line up behind Ted Cruz

Republican presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is getting some love from his home state of Texas.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry became the latest to give his stamp of approval to Cruz, endorsing him in the presidential race.

And Tarrant County Republicans threw their support behind Cruz this past weekend as well.

“I support Ted Cruz for President,” said Perry, who has called Cruz a “man of principle.”

“As an Air Force Veteran, I understand the sacrifices that our men and women in the military make every day to keep us safe. They deserve a commander in chief who values their service, who will keep our military strong, and who will always put America’s national security interests first,” he said. “Ted has proven that he is ready to serve as Commander in Chief on Day One. He has also proven the willingness to take on the Washington Cartel and restore power and opportunity back to the people.”

This comes just days before the Iowa caucuses — where the first voters in the country finally get to weigh in on the race to the White House.

This race appears, despite a still crowded GOP presidential field, to be a question of whether GOP frontrunner Donald Trump or Cruz will win.

Cruz said he is glad Perry is on board.

“Gov. Rick Perry is a friend and a remarkable public servant,” Cruz said in a statement. “I am thrilled to have Rick join our campaign. With his principled leadership, we will coalesce conservatives behind this campaign to win the White House in 2016.”

Perry plans to campaign with Cruz — who has been described by Trump as “a nasty guy” — in Iowa this week.

Perry said that early on in his tenure as governor, he also ran into opposition because he vetoed several bills. He said that Cruz, if elected, would be able to work with lawmakers.

“You’ll have with Ted Cruz that same result of senators and others in the Washington establishment that are mad at him, find him to be hard to work with; they will find a way to work with him because they know he means what he says he means,” he said.

Straw poll

Tarrant County Republicans — who have long been strong supporters of Cruz, helping elect him to the U.S. Senate over then-Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in 2012 — reiterated their support for the state’s former solicitor general this weekend.

Nearly 40 percent of those voting in the Tarrant County Republican Party 2016 Candidate Fair and Straw Poll at the Arlington Convention Center Saturday cast their ballots for Cruz.

“Well done, everyone,” state Sen. Konni Burton, a Colleyville Republican and longtime Cruz supporter who worked at his booth during the candidate fair, wrote on Facebook. “An engaged and educated electorate is essential!”

Trump came in second with nearly 27 percent of the vote and Marco Rubio came in third with 9.3 percent, according to results showing that 691 votes were cast.

“Support for @realDonaldTrump is broad and growing,” tweeted John Forrest, a fan. “We were at TCGOP yesterday people 4 Trump numerous & mixed.”

That might be true, but Brandy Van Pelt, a Cruz supporter, said there’s one thing for certain.

“TX is Cruz Country,” she tweeted.

Staff writer Maria Recio contributed to this report.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 3:34 PM with the headline "Rick Perry and other Texans line up behind Ted Cruz."