Looks like the issue was the way in which I was copying the contents of the key and certs into the AWS Management console. I was using an Ubuntu desktop running in Virtual Box on a Windows 7 desktop; copy and pasting the values from a gedit screen into the browser running on the Windows box. Once I opened the key and cert files on the same box as the web browser (Windows in this case) the certs went through just fine. I'm guessing some parts of the file aren't making it over correctly when using the shared clip board between Virtual Box client and host. Case closed.
