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It is quite perplexing how a former casino owner, who has been married three times and was caught on tape boasting about groping women, managed to win over evangelical Christians. However, according to Edison Research exit polls, Donald Trump secured 76% of the white evangelical vote in the 2020 election. Trump recently expressed his confidence in maintaining the support of church leaders during a campaign stop in Iowa, stating that he had a strong bond with faith leaders across the country. Evangelical or “born again” Christians account for about one-third of Americans, but they hold significant influence in the early nomination contests that shape the Republican party’s presidential candidate selection process. In the 2024 Iowa caucuses, two-thirds of Republican participants are expected to be evangelical churchgoers, and they are likely to make up a similar portion in the GOP primary contest in South Carolina, another early voting state. Trump’s competitors will attempt to sway this voting bloc during a three-day event in Washington organized by the Faith and Freedom Coalition. This organization played a crucial role in garnering support for Trump in the past two elections. Some evangelical leaders believe that Trump’s rivals could gain their endorsement, potentially gaining early momentum and diminishing his substantial lead in polls. A recent CNN survey indicates that Trump is supported by 47% of Republican voters nationwide, with no other candidate even coming close.
Pastor Michael Demastus, who attended a recent meeting with Trump in Iowa, praised the former president as a “force of nature” and credited him for appointing conservative judges and relocating the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, which are important issues for evangelicals. However, Demastus believes that not all evangelical leaders fully support Trump and that they are open to hearing from other candidates. Ralph Reed, founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, agrees that the race is wide open and expects all contenders to receive a fair hearing at the upcoming event.
Trump initially faced challenges in winning over evangelicals during his first presidential bid in 2016. However, he eventually earned their support by delivering on his promise to be a pro-life president and making conservative appointments to the Supreme Court. Many of Trump’s rivals are also targeting conservative Christian voters in their campaigns. For example, Mike Pence, as he launched his campaign in Iowa, highlighted his Christian faith, conservatism, and Republican affiliation as his defining qualities. Tim Scott’s official campaign slogan is “faith in America,” and he expressed excitement about engaging with evangelical voters at an upcoming conference in Iowa. Nevertheless, analysts doubt that evangelical voters will be swayed by candidates’ religious beliefs or personal characteristics. Robert Jones, founder of the Public Religion Research Institute, observed a shift in the values of evangelicals, who have become less concerned about a candidate’s morality and personal attributes and more focused on policy positions. While sharing their faith is appreciated, evangelical voters prioritize alignment on public policies that matter to them.
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