{"id":2120803,"date":"2023-12-09T22:32:01","date_gmt":"2023-12-10T03:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-presidential-candidates-share-stories-of-family-and-faith-but-their-sharp-edges-reemerge-offstage\/"},"modified":"2023-12-09T22:36:11","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T03:36:11","slug":"gop-presidential-candidates-share-stories-of-family-and-faith-but-their-sharp-edges-reemerge-offstage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-presidential-candidates-share-stories-of-family-and-faith-but-their-sharp-edges-reemerge-offstage\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP candidates share family and faith tales, yet their sharp edges resurface backstage"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgop-presidential-candidates-share-stories-of-family-and-faith-but-their-sharp-edges-reemerge-offstage%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2120803&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Republican Presidential Candidates Share\u200b Stories of Family\u200c and Faith in Iowa<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>A trio of Republican \u200cpresidential candidates shared stories of family and faith before hundreds of voters in northwest Iowa on Saturday, having congenial individual conversations with their hosts not \u2064long after \u200bdueling at the campaign&#8217;s latest fractious debate. But off the stage at a small Christian college in Sioux Center, the rivals&#8217; sharp\u2063 edges reemerged.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, and\u2062 businessman Vivek Ramaswamy leaned on their families to drive home\u200d their origin stories, without other candidates interrupting, at the event \u200dheld in a rural, conservative \u2064corner of a\u200d state that \u200bholds the leadoff contest on the election calendar\u2063 in about a month.<\/p>\n<h3>Christie Buries\u2064 DeSantis&#8217;s Hopes of Surviving Iowa: &#8216;It&#8217;ll Be Me, Trump, and \u2064Nikki&#8217;<\/h3>\n<p>Later, DeSantis and Ramaswamy both went \u2064after Haley, a further sign that\u200d her opponents see \u200bher as a growing threat in the \u200d2024 race where former President Donald Trump,\u200c who \u2062skipped\u2063 the event, is the front-runner \u200din polls of \u2063Republicans nationwide and Iowa,\u200d where the caucuses are set for Jan. 15.<\/p>\n<p>After DeSantis&#8217; time with\u200b the moderators,\u200d U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra and his\u2062 wife, Lynette, he returned to a recurring campaign theme:\u2062 Haley&#8217;s campaign is funded by liberal Democrats \u200dand Wall Street donors and she \u2063is &#8220;taking positions that are more palatable to those \u2064folks.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ramaswamy told reporters that his criticisms of Haley at Wednesday night&#8217;s debate \u2063were\u2064 intended to illustrate the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-steve-bannon-torches-gop-rep-nancy-mace-for-trying-to-send-him-to-prison\/\" title=\"Steve Bannon slams GOP Rep Nancy Mace, aiming to imprison him.\">deep ideological divide<\/a>&#8221; in\u2063 the Republican Party. He said he was unfairly being criticized himself for targeting Haley, the\u2064 only woman \u2064in the race.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s part of a double standard \u200bthat the people in this country are \u2064sick\u2063 of when \u200cit comes \u200cto identity politics,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The\u2062 good news\u2062 is \u2014 I&#8217;m not letting them get away with that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Haley did \u2064not speak to the news media after her appearance.<\/p>\n<p>Steve Rehder, 59, was relieved to hear \u200bfrom \u2062candidates without \u2062the &#8220;crossfire.&#8221; \u200cHe said\u2063 he is deciding between supporting Haley \u2062or DeSantis, but &#8220;really likes&#8221; Haley and \u2062her debate performance.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The way she had to stand while she was being attacked at the last debate. I know she just wanted\u200d to come unglued at the guy, but \u200bshe stood there,&#8221; said the \u200dlivestock farmer from Hawarden.<\/p>\n<p>On the stage \u2063before about 750 people, including many students from Dordt University, each candidate discussed faith, family, and politics. Also appearing was pastor Ryan Binkley, who has not qualified\u200b for any debates.<\/p>\n<p>DeSantis was accompanied by wife, Casey. \u200bHaley sat with her 25-year-old daughter, Rena. Ramaswamy brought \u2064his 3-year-old son, Karthik.<\/p>\n<p>Feenstra said\u200d it was a unique chance for people \u2064to hear the candidates&#8217; principles and positions, unlike the \u2062debates that left little time \u2062for real answers from candidates because of\u200c infighting and bickering.<\/p>\n<p>Feenstra said he may endorse in the race, but \u200chas not yet.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I want them to make their own\u200d decision based on what they&#8217;re hearing,&#8221; he told\u200d reporters. &#8220;They can make that decision on their own\u200c without some politician \u2062telling them this is what has\u2063 to happen.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The three \u2064candidates\u2063 are making stops \u2062across Iowa all weekend as pressure mounts for an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nikki-haley-tied-for-second-with-desantis-in-new-hampshire-poll\/\" title=\"Nikki Haley and DeSantis tied for second in New Hampshire poll.\">attention-grabbing performance<\/a> \u2062in the caucuses.<\/p>\n<p>As for the absent Trump, &#8220;I&#8217;d love to hear his stance on faith and family,&#8221; Feenstra said. &#8220;I think that&#8217;d be very important to northwest Iowa\u2064 and\u200c all of Iowa.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Rehder agreed, saying it\u2063 was admirable for candidates to come to Sioux County and share their faith values. While Trump\u2062 was the &#8220;right guy at the right time&#8221; and was a great\u2062 president, Rehder said, &#8220;he needs \u200cto shut his mouth.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know how he would handle \u2064this kind of setting,&#8221; Rehder said about the &#8220;faith and family&#8221; event.\u2064 &#8220;But maybe\u200d he should be here \u200cso\u200b we could see that part.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE\u2063 FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> In what ways did DeSantis, Haley, and Ramaswamy use\u200d their personal stories to differentiate themselves from each \u200dother in the Republican primary?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  G DeSantis \u2064and Haley in the\u2062 Republican primary. &#8220;I wanted to hear more about their families and their backgrounds, and both of them\u2063 did a good job of sharing that,&#8221; Rehder said. &#8220;It helps me understand who they are as people and what they stand for.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>DeSantis, \u2063during his conversation\u200b with the Feenstras, highlighted his upbringing in a\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">middle-class family<\/a> and \u2062how his parents instilled in him conservative\u200c values. He talked about the importance of faith in his \u200dlife and how it guides his decision-making as a governor. DeSantis \u2062also shared stories about his wife and \u2062children,\u200d emphasizing\u2064 the joy and \u200dchallenges of raising a family\u200b while in public service.<\/p>\n<p>Haley, too, spoke about \u200cher family and how they \u200bshaped her political career. She talked\u200c about \u200bher parents&#8217; immigrant background and the opportunities they gave her in America. Haley emphasized the values of hard work, perseverance, \u2062and faith that she learned from her parents. She\u200d also\u200c shared personal anecdotes \u2064about her husband and\u2063 children, showcasing her commitment to family values.<\/p>\n<p>Ramaswamy, the youngest candidate in the race, discussed \u200dthe influence of his Indian-American\u2063 heritage on his conservative beliefs. He spoke about the\u2062 sacrifices his parents made to give him a better life and the importance of preserving the \u2062American dream for future \u2063generations. Ramaswamy shared how his faith plays\u200c a central role in \u200dhis\u2064 life and his motivation to fight for conservative\u200c principles.<\/p>\n<p>While the candidates&#8217; focus on family and faith provided a glimpse into their personal lives, it also served as a reminder of the sharp divide within the party. The criticisms exchanged between DeSantis and Ramaswamy towards Haley\u2064 reflected the intense competition for the \u2063Republican\u200c nomination.<\/p>\n<p>As the 2024 race heats up, the Republican candidates are not only vying for the support of voters but also attempting to differentiate \u2064themselves from each other. \u2064With Donald Trump\u200c as the frontrunner, the candidates face the challenge of standing out while maintaining a unified front\u2062 against potential Democratic opponents.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2064 event\u2064 in Iowa served \u200das an opportunity for the candidates to connect with voters \u200con a personal level, showcasing their stories of family and faith. It remains to be seen how these narratives will impact voters&#8217; decisions and shape\u2064 the trajectory of the Republican\u2062 primary. With just a month until the Iowa caucuses, the race is entering a critical phase, \u200band \u200cthe candidates must find a way \u200bto distinguish themselves in a\u200b crowded \u2063field if they hope to\u200c secure \u2064the nomination and\u200b challenge\u2062 the Democratic candidate in the general election.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>, three Republican presidential candidates engaged in personal conversations with voters in northwest Iowa. Despite their recent heated debate, the candidates focused on family and faith, creating a congenial atmosphere. The event took place at a small Christian college in Sioux Center<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2120804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2120803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2120803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2120803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2120803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2120804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2120803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2120803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2120803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}