He said that Romney didn't mind the splitting of the conservative votes (the anti-Romney) as it makes Romney look stronger (my words not his but that's what I gleaned from hearing him.)
That's exactly right. Perry's internal polling numbers HAVE to be telling him that South Carolina is a fool's errand, yet he's going to risk helping Romney pull out a victory there anyway.
That, in my opinion, is an ego trip of the First Order, or a back room sell-out deal to the establishment RINOs. No other ways to read it.