{"id":2149211,"date":"2024-01-15T09:36:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T14:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-courts-iowa-evangelical-voters-but-many-wont-shake-faith-in-trump\/"},"modified":"2024-01-15T09:41:10","modified_gmt":"2024-01-15T14:41:10","slug":"desantis-courts-iowa-evangelical-voters-but-many-wont-shake-faith-in-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-courts-iowa-evangelical-voters-but-many-wont-shake-faith-in-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis seeks Iowa evangelicals, but Trump loyalty remains strong"},"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\">18<\/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%2Fdesantis-courts-iowa-evangelical-voters-but-many-wont-shake-faith-in-trump%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=2149211&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>Gov. Ron DeSantis and \u2064Former President\u200d Trump \u2062Compete for Evangelical Voters in Iowa<\/h2>\n<p>On the eve of the Iowa GOP caucuses, Gov.\u200c Ron DeSantis\u200c and his family attended a Sunday \u2064service at\u2063 the Coram\u200c Deo Bible Church in Davenport. This\u200d visit is just\u200d one of many church services DeSantis has \u200cattended across the state, as he recognizes the importance \u200cof winning \u2064over this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-fails-to-give-biden-positive-rating-his-hesitancy-has-made-things-not-optimal\/\" title=\"Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Fails to Give Biden Positive Rating: His 'Hesitancy' Has Made Things 'Not Optimal'\">critical voting bloc<\/a> in his bid for the presidency.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Kari\u200c Lake, a top surrogate of\u2064 former President Donald Trump, prayed \u200cwith churchgoers at\u2064 a Baptist church in West Des Moines.\u200d Trump, \u2062who failed \u2064to win a majority of Iowa&#8217;s evangelical voters in the 2016 caucuses, seems to\u2062 have a strong hold on this group of voters this time \u200baround, despite efforts from his\u2064 opponents \u2062to \u2062sway their support.<\/p>\n<h3>Trump Leads Among Evangelical Voters<\/h3>\n<p>A recent Iowa poll revealed that Trump maintains\u200d a significant lead among evangelical voters, with 51%\u2062 support. DeSantis\u200b comes in\u200b second \u200dwith 22%, while \u200cformer U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley trails behind\u200c with only 12% support from this demographic.<\/p>\n<p>Jane Olson, a voter who had considered supporting DeSantis, ultimately decided to back Trump after the former president&#8217;s Supreme Court justices \u2063overturned Roe v. Wade. Olson\u200b sees \u2064this as a major pro-life victory and a decisive \u2063factor in her support for Trump.<\/p>\n<h3>DeSantis Makes Inroads with Influential\u2062 Backers<\/h3>\n<p>DeSantis has been working hard to \u2062cut into \u2063Trump&#8217;s advantage among evangelical voters\u200d and has gained support \u2062from influential figures such as Gov. Kim Reynolds and Bob Vander Plaats, the state&#8217;s\u200d most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/evangelical-leaders-joy-reid-committed-slander-against-christians\/\" title=\"Evangelical Leaders: Joy Reid Committed \u2018Slander\u2019 Against Christians\">prominent evangelical leader<\/a>. Vander Plaats, \u2063who has a history of endorsing\u2062 winning candidates, believes that DeSantis may \u200bhave\u2063 more \u200bsupport \u2063than the polls indicate.<\/p>\n<h3>The Abortion Issue \u200cDivides Voters<\/h3>\n<p>The\u200d topic of abortion remains a divisive issue among Republican voters.\u200c While some, like Maggie Loftin, appreciate DeSantis&#8217; firm stance\u2064 on the matter, others, \u200clike Lisa Stevens, believe\u2062 that abortion is a settled issue due to recent Supreme \u200dCourt \u200bdecisions and state laws.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, both DeSantis and Trump are vying \u200cfor\u200b the \u200bsupport of\u2063 evangelical voters in Iowa, recognizing their significance in the upcoming caucuses.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How has former President Trump cultivated evangelical support during \u2063his presidency,\u200d and how does his frequent church attendance and alignment with\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/donald-trump-delivers-campaign-remarks-at-las-vegas-rally\/\" title=\"Trump speaks at Las Vegas rally\">key issues resonate<\/a> with evangelical conservatives<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u2062 He seeks to court the crucial \u2064evangelical vote ahead of the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n<p>Evangelical voters \u200chave long played a decisive role in Republican caucus outcomes in Iowa, and both DeSantis and former President Trump recognize their significance. With the former president hinting at a potential 2024 run himself, this battle for \u2063evangelical voters in Iowa is heating up.<\/p>\n<p>During his \u2063visit to \u200dthe Coram Deo Bible Church,\u2062 Governor DeSantis delivered a powerful message to the congregation, addressing issues close \u2063to the hearts of evangelical voters. He emphasized the importance\u2063 of religious freedom, defending the sanctity \u200bof life, \u200cand <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pence-unveils-pro-family-plan-at-pray-vote-stand-summit-in-dc\/\" title=\"Pence presents family-focused plan at DC summit.\">protecting traditional family values<\/a>. DeSantis \u200cportrayed himself as a devout Christian, appealing to the shared values between him and\u200b the evangelical community.<\/p>\n<p>However, DeSantis \u200bfaces stiff competition from former President Trump, who has a strong base of evangelical support. Trump&#8217;s successful presidency saw many achievements that resonated with evangelical voters, including the appointment of conservative judges and\u2062 his staunch opposition to abortion. Traditional marriage and religious \u2063liberties were also key\u200b issues on which Trump aligned with evangelical \u2064conservatives.<\/p>\n<p>To further \u200dsolidify his standing with evangelical voters, Trump has not shied away\u2063 from frequent church attendance himself. He often attends services at the First \u2063Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, where Pastor Robert Jeffress, a prominent evangelical leader, \u2063preaches.<\/p>\n<p>The battle\u200d for evangelical voters is not\u200c limited to Iowa. It extends to other states like Florida, where DeSantis serves as governor, and even\u2062 national platforms. Both DeSantis and Trump \u2064are eager to position \u200dthemselves as the preferred candidate for evangelical voters across the \u2064country.<\/p>\n<p>This competition for the evangelical vote \u200bis crucial in a potential 2024 presidential bid. Iowa&#8217;s caucuses traditionally serve as a litmus test \u200dfor presidential candidates. Winning over evangelical voters in Iowa can provide a significant boost to a candidate&#8217;s \u200ccampaign momentum, both \u200cin terms of financial support and media attention.<\/p>\n<p>The evangelical community represents a significant portion of the Republican Party base, and\u200d their support can make or break a candidate&#8217;s chances. They \u2064are known\u200c for their dedication to conservative values, unwavering \u2062commitment to their faith, and active participation in grassroots political activities.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, evangelical voters have become more politically engaged, pushing for policies and candidates that align \u200bwith their values. They have shown a willingness to\u200c mobilize their networks and resources to support candidates who champion issues \u200bimportant to them.<\/p>\n<p>Given the critical role the evangelical vote plays in the Republican Party, it is no\u200d surprise that both \u200dDeSantis and Trump are vying for their support. Both candidates are working hard to win\u2062 the hearts and minds of this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/majority-of-voters-skeptical-of-biden-impeachment-inquiry-poll\/\" title=\"Most voters doubt Biden impeachment inquiry: Poll.\">crucial voter bloc<\/a> through church visits, speeches, and \u200dpolicy proposals.<\/p>\n<p>As the \u20632024 presidential race \u200dcontinues to\u200c take shape, the battle\u2062 for evangelical voters between Governor \u2063Ron DeSantis and\u2064 former President Trump is likely\u2063 to intensify. The outcome of this contest could have far-reaching implications not only for \u200cthe Republican Party but also for the future of conservative politics in America. Only time will tell which candidate will emerge as the preferred choice of evangelical voters, but one\u2063 thing is certain &#8211; their support will be vital in determining the next Republican nominee.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and family attended Sunday service at Coram Deo Bible Church in Davenport, Iowa. This marked one of many church visits for the governor, who has attended over a dozen services across the state ahead of the Iowa GOP caucus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2149212,"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-2149211","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\/2149211","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\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2149211"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2149211\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2149212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2149211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2149211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2149211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}