Republican voters are heavily focused on domestic issues such as prices, government spending, and inflation in the 2024 presidential race. However, there is one foreign policy issue that holds significant importance for them – the Israel-Hamas war.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war could have a significant impact on how voters approach the Iowa Republican caucuses on Jan. 15. For the evangelical Christians who dominate the Republican electorate in the state, the security of Israel is not just a matter of foreign policy; it is deeply rooted in their faith and belief in God’s will.
During a Sunday morning service in October, Mike Augsburger, the lead pastor at Soteria Baptist church in West Des Moines, Iowa, emphasized the critical role of the nation of Israel in biblical prophecy. He stated, “Ever since God created the nation of Israel, Satan has tried to wipe her out. The nation of Israel is critical for bringing Jesus back and putting him on that throne in Jerusalem.” This sermon was attended by GOP presidential hopeful Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats.
This message resonates throughout evangelical churches in Iowa and has gained a new sense of urgency following Hamas’ attack on Israel, which triggered weeks of Israeli military action in Gaza.
According to the new NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll, inflation, immigration, and government spending are the top concerns for Iowa Republicans in the 2024 election. However, the Israel-Hamas war stands out as the only other issue that more than half of Iowa Republicans rank as “extremely important,” surpassing other foreign policy matters such as relations with China and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Foreign policy typically takes a back seat for American voters, but for evangelicals, Israel holds both religious significance and political importance. In the 2016 GOP Iowa caucus, approximately two-thirds of voters identified as evangelical or born-again Christians, according to the NBC News exit poll.
Republican political strategist Dave Kochel, a native Iowan who previously worked on Mitt Romney’s and Jeb Bush’s presidential campaigns, acknowledges the pivotal role that evangelicals’ loyalty to Israel plays in the Iowa caucuses. Kochel stated, “To the extent that evangelicals do have that sense of loyalty and common cause with Israel, yeah—it’s gonna play a big role in Iowa.”
Ryan Binkley, an evangelical pastor and little-known Republican presidential candidate from Texas, emphasizes the significance of modern-day Israel in fulfilling biblical prophecy. He asserts that Israel’s existence as a nation is rooted in biblical history and references the books of Ezekiel and Zechariah for validation.
Kerry Yech, a pastor at New Hope Christian Church in Marshalltown, Iowa, shares a similar belief, stating that Jesus will eventually return to Earth and rule from Jerusalem.
Bob Vander Plaats, the president and CEO of the Family Leader Foundation, an influential evangelical organization involved in politics, has endorsed winning candidates in the past and emphasizes the importance of blessing Israel. Vander Plaats references the Book of Genesis and states, “Those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed. The nation is very important to God. And so it’s very important to us as believers.”
Kochel emphasizes that Iowa voters seek candidates who strongly support Israel and its policies. He believes that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley have an opportunity to showcase their experiences amid the conflict.
According to current polls, Iowa voters are giving weight to Haley’s two years of experience at the U.N. Among Iowa Republicans, a majority of 52% believe former President Donald Trump would best handle the Israel-Hamas war. Haley ranks second with 22% support, followed by DeSantis at 9%.
Susan Bernau, a 74-year-old evangelical Christian from West Des Moines, Iowa, wholeheartedly supports Trump and underscores the importance of ensuring Israel’s destiny as a Jewish state. Bernau refers to the historical and religious significance of Israel and expresses her preference for a religion of peace, aligning with Israel in their conflict with Hamas.
Kochel acknowledges Trump’s strong support among evangelical voters due to his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017, which was celebrated by Israelis and American evangelicals alike. However, Kochel cautions that Trump may have tarnished his reputation after publicly criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after the violent and inhuman terror attack carried out by Hamas.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
