DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) 鈥� Hoping to cut into Donald Trump's support at a major Iowa gathering of evangelical Christians, several of his top rivals on Saturday mostly avoided direct criticism of him on abortion and other issues key to social conservatives.
The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition鈥檚 annual banquet is traditionally a marquee event on the Republican primary calendar. But the former president skipped it, leaving a mostly muted crowd of more than 1,000 pastors and activists to instead hear from several candidates running far behind Trump.
The was once again on display, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis saying restrictions on the procedure should be left to the states 鈥� a 鈥� while former Vice President Mike Pence referred to Trump as his 鈥渇ormer running mate鈥� and said he was wrong to oppose a national abortion ban.
While the audience was overwhelmingly anti-abortion, Pence's push for a 15-week ban got only tepid applause, reflecting some national Republicans' concerns that Democrats are winning on abortion rights issues after last year's Supreme Court ruling overturning the Roe v. Wade decision.
, who has as the GOP primary's No. 2 behind Trump, declined to say he鈥檇 back a federal abortion ban. Instead, he said, states have done more on the issue.
鈥淐ongress has really struggled to make an impact over the years,鈥� DeSantis said.
That's similar to Trump, who recently has , arguing that the issue should be left up to the states. The former president also has also previously cautioned top Republicans from championing abortion positions that are outside the political mainstream.
said he disagreed with Trump and argued all Republican presidential candidates should back a federal abortion ban at a minimum of 15 weeks of pregnancy.
鈥淚 believe it's an idea whose time has come,鈥� Pence said. 鈥淲e need to stand for the unborn all across America.鈥�
A Trump attack came from former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who is a frequent critic of the former president. He said 鈥渢here鈥檚 another candidate, that I respect, but who is not here tonight鈥� before slamming Trump for saying he wants 鈥渢o make both sides happy鈥� on abortion.
Hutchinson said that unlike Trump, 鈥渂oth sides aren鈥檛 going to like me. This is going to be a fight for life.鈥�
Unlike other high-profile events, no one in the audience booed that or any other comment Saturday. That might have been because Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, admonished the audience before things started: 鈥淟et鈥檚 conduct ourselves in a way that honors these candidates but honors our lord and savior Jesus Christ.鈥�
Those criticizing Trump didn't agree on everything. Hutchinson suggested that a House Republican push to open an might be premature given the facts that have been uncovered so far. Pence said he supported that effort.
The event featured many devout and well-connected social conservatives who can play a decisive role in Iowa鈥檚 first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses in January. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz used strong appeals to evangelical Republicans to win
This time, however, Trump鈥檚 rivals face a much tougher task because he has . The former president has also remained and social conservatives in Iowa and elsewhere who were delighted to see his three Supreme Court picks vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Saturday鈥檚 banquet is the last scheduled opportunity for a large group of Iowa evangelical conservatives have the chance to see the candidates side-by-side, meaning they won鈥檛 see Trump. He skipped similar events with crowds of thousands in Iowa in April and June.
麻豆视频 Carolina Sen. , a longtime bachelor, was asked about reports that he has a girlfriend who hasn't been publicly identified. On Saturday, he called her a 鈥渓ovely Christian girl鈥� and asked the crowd, 鈥淐an we just pray together for me?"
He added, 鈥淚 just say praise the living God," seemingly joking about the Lord's work in finally ensuring he has a girlfriend.
DeSantis was asked specifically to talk about his personal faith and deeply held Catholic beliefs. He noted that when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, he was thankful for 鈥渢he amount of prayers we received. It lifted my wife鈥檚 spirits up.鈥� He said prayer was a key reason she was now cancer-free.
Candidates discussing their personal faith has been a hallmark of successful Iowa caucus candidates for decades 鈥� including George W. Bush who in 1999 famously said, when asked to identify his favorite political philosopher, named Jesus Christ 鈥渂ecause he changed my heart.鈥�
Robin Star of Waukee, just west of Des Moines, attended DeSantis' address at the church and said she was glad the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade 鈥� but that Trump doesn't deserve all the credit. Star said she'd nonetheless vote for Trump if he鈥檚 the Republican nominee, but fears he cannot unify the Republican Party enough heading into the general election against Biden.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to win," Star said. "We鈥檝e just got to win.鈥�
Her husband, Jerry Star, was more definitive, saying 鈥淚 believe it鈥檚 time for new leadership.鈥�
A retired Air Force officer, Jerry Star said he was very supportive of most of Trump's time in the White House until Jan. 6, 2021, when a .
鈥淗e did a heck of a job in his four years, but he knocked it all down that day," he said. "It鈥檚 time for someone else.鈥�
Will Weissert And Thomas Beaumont, The Associated Press
