DES MOINES, Iowa: In a bid to gain ground among evangelical Christians at a significant Iowa event, several top contenders vying against Donald Trump largely refrained from direct criticism of him on issues vital to social conservatives, including abortion.
The annual banquet of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition is traditionally a highlight on the Republican primary calendar. However, the former president was notably absent, leaving over 1,000 pastors and activists to listen to candidates who are trailing behind Trump.
The rift within the primary field regarding abortion was evident once more, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressing a stance akin to Trump’s, advocating that decisions on abortion restrictions should be made at the state level. In contrast, former Vice President Mike Pence referred to Trump as his “former running mate” and admitted his mistake in opposing a national abortion ban.
Although the audience was predominantly anti-abortion, Pence’s call for a 15-week ban received lukewarm applause, reflecting concerns among some national Republicans that Democrats are gaining ground on abortion rights following last year’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
DeSantis, who has struggled to establish himself as the clear second choice in the GOP primary after Trump, refrained from endorsing a federal abortion ban and instead emphasized that states have taken more significant steps on this issue, saying, “Congress has really struggled to make an impact over the years,” echoing Trump’s belief that states should have more authority in such matters.
Pence, on the other hand, disagreed with Trump and urged all Republican presidential candidates to support a federal abortion ban, with a minimum cutoff at 15 weeks of pregnancy. He stated, “I believe it’s an idea whose time has come. We need to stand for the unborn all across America.”
A critique of Trump came from former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who has been a frequent critic of the former president. He mentioned that there was “another candidate, that I respect, but who is not here tonight” before criticizing Trump for wanting to “make both sides happy” on the abortion issue. Hutchinson asserted that unlike Trump, he would not seek to appease both sides and that he would fight for the pro-life cause.
Remarkably, unlike other high-profile events, none of the comments made on Saturday received boos from the audience. This could be attributed to Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, who admonished the audience before the event started to conduct themselves in a manner that honors the candidates and their faith.
The event featured devout and influential social conservatives who can wield significant influence in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses in January. In the 2016 GOP caucuses, Texas Senator Ted Cruz successfully courted evangelical Republicans.
However, this time, Trump’s competitors face a more daunting challenge, as he has already established a substantial lead in the early GOP primary. Trump continues to enjoy popularity among evangelical Christians and social conservatives in Iowa and elsewhere, particularly after his three Supreme Court appointments voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Saturday’s banquet represented the last scheduled opportunity for a sizable gathering of Iowa evangelical conservatives to see the candidates side by side, as Trump chose to skip similar events with much larger audiences in Iowa earlier in the year.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott addressed reports about his undisclosed girlfriend, describing her as a “lovely Christian girl” and humorously asking the crowd to pray for him.
DeSantis was asked about his personal faith and deeply held Catholic beliefs. He shared that when his wife battled breast cancer, the support of prayers lifted her spirits, contributing to her recovery.
Candidates discussing their personal faith is a customary aspect of winning Iowa caucus candidates’ campaigns, with George W. Bush famously citing Jesus Christ as his favorite political philosopher in 1999.
Source: AP