WAUKEE, Iowa—Nine Republican candidates drew from their personal experiences and spoke about the depth of their faith in seeking to appeal to religious voters who face a broad slate of 2016 Republican presidential candidates.
Speaking before more than 1,000 attendees of a multicandidate forum here Saturday, the declared and potential Republican contenders voiced concerns about religious freedoms being under threat in the U.S., and expressed the need to protect Christianity at home and abroad. They also emphasized the need to further America’s strength overseas and pivot sharply from the policies of the Obama administration.
“Religious liberty is an issue that unifies us,” said Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who drew some of the loudest applause of the night. “We embrace the liberty of the Bill of Rights for each and every American to worship God.”
Saturday’s Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition summit was the latest multicandidate event for Republicans to view their potential 2016 options. Unlike earlier “cattle calls,” the summit took place after several contenders have declared their candidacy or are slated to do so in coming days.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Mr. Cruz have officially announced they are running for president, while former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Carly Fiorina and neurosurgeon Ben Carson plan to announce decisions in early May.
In contrast to a Republican summit in New Hampshire last week, Saturday’s event was largely devoid of attacks on the national Common Core education standards and overhauling entitlement programs. There were far fewer references to tax policy, trade or regulation.
Instead, speakers gave full-throated endorsements of their religious beliefs and the role Christianity has played in shaping American values. Speaking at an evangelical church with a large wooden cross near the stage, would-be candidates detailed the role of faith in their life, quoted Biblical passages and gave personal anecdotes about the power of prayer.
Mr. Jindal opened his speech by asking for an “Amen” from the crowd, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker held a devotional “Jesus Calling” book while on stage and Mr. Cruz said the crowd should “fall to our knees and pray” when the U.S. Supreme Court takes up oral arguments on gay marriage on Tuesday.
Even Mr. Paul mixed his civil liberties platform with the need to protect Christians persecuted in nations such as Pakistan, and to protect the rights of the unborn.
“Countries that persecute Christians shouldn’t get one penny of our dollars,” Mr. Paul said.
Mr. Huckabee defended controversial comments he had made earlier in the week that same-sex marriage was “criminalizing Christianity in this country.” He got applause in response.
The speakers didn’t attack each other at the summit. Instead, some lauded other candidates while on stage. Mr. Huckabee praised a recent opinion piece written by Mr. Jindal against gay marriage, while Mr. Cruz huddled with Mr. Walker after he left the stage.
“What a tremendous array of candidates,” Mr. Cruz said. “I don’t know about you but I’m inspired.”
Speakers reserved their fire for Hillary Clinton. The Democratic presidential candidate was attacked for supporting abortion rights, for running a campaign that speakers said has already shown to be out-of-touch with voters and for being the equivalent of eight more years of Mr. Obama’s policies.
Ms. Fiorina said it wasn’t being a woman that would keep Mrs. Clinton out of the White House. Rather, Ms. Fiorina said, “She can’t be a president of the United States because she’s not trustworthy.”
Several attendees said they left the five hours of speeches feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of choosing between so many candidates who they considered strong.
Messrs. Walker and Cruz are expected to do well in Iowa if both choose to run, and some attendees said Saturday further solidified their support behind the men.
But Mr. Jindal and Ms. Fiorina appeared to be the surprises of the evening. Many caucusgoers said they walked away impressed by their speeches after they hadn’t been on their radar.
State GOP leaders sought to stress that the unusually large field was an asset for the party, and offered a point of contrast with a Democratic Party that has largely united behind Mrs. Clinton.
“Which one is in the spirit of the caucuses and which one is coroneted,” said Jeff Kaufmann, the chairman of the Iowa GOP, in speaking about the two fields. “Iowa is going to be red, not purple.”
Saturday’s summit was one of the largest candidate forums in Iowa so far this year. Contenders held events with Iowa voters on their own in the days leading up to the summit: Mr. Rubio attended an ice cream social with an Iowa state senator Saturday, Mr. Walker spoke before hundreds of Republicans gathered in the state’s conservative northwest Friday, and Ms. Fiorina traveled more than a thousand miles across the state during the week.
“I will take Casey’s pizza in the car to Chipotle takeout anytime,” said Ms. Fiorina, a dig at Mrs. Clinton’s recent stop at the chain restaurant.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Mr. Carson didn’t attend the event but sent surrogates in their place. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham taped a video that was shown. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie also declined to attend the summit but had no representative.
The evangelical ministry that hosted Saturday’s event, Point of Grace Church, has played a prominent role in Republican politics in Iowa. Its pastor, Jeff Mullen, endorsed Michelle Bachman when the Minnesota Republican ran for president in 2012. The church also held the multicandidate forum before the 2012 Republican primary.
Write to Heather Haddon at heather.haddon@wsj.com
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