Rick Perry on Viral Video: "It Was a Good Speech"

Updated By Lexi Stemple:

The man who hosted Texas governor Rick Perry in New Hampshire last Friday is coming to Perry's defense. Kevin Smith, the Executive Director of Cornerstone Action, tells America Live's Megyn Kelly, he was with Perry all evening and only saw the presidential hopeful drink water. Smith says he was surprised the video went viral and that people are speculating if he was drunk.

Smith claims Perry was very articulate and engaging the whole evening, and the crowd "ate it up." In fact, Smith says people were telling him that they were glad to see a more animated side of Perry, and he hopes to see more of it on the campaign trail.

Smith invited Perry to speak at the Cornerstone Action Dinner in NH, but insists he hasn't endorsed a candidate.

Rick Perry is defending a lively speech he gave in New Hampshire recently.

The Texas Governor made the comments at the Drake Diner in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, after he was asked about the speech, which he delivered on Friday night. Some of Perry's critics, along with some reporters, have made some fairly wild speculations that the Governor was either drunk or high on painkillers. Perry was prescribed pain medication after recent back surgery.

"I felt good," Perry said. "It felt great. I think the message got across very well. It was a good speech."

The speech in question was delivered at the Cornerstone Action Dinner in Manchester, New Hampshire.

"This is such a cool state. I mean come on. ‘Live free or die.' You got to love that right?" Perry said Friday. "I come from a state you know where they have this little place called the Alamo and they declared, ‘Victory or death.' We're kind of into those slogans: ‘Live free or die.' ‘Victory or death.' Bring it."