2024 GOP hopefuls compete for evangelicals’ support at forum RNC warned them not to attend

Mod: Anybody know why Chris Christie wasn't invited? Just these jokers?

2024 GOP hopefuls compete for evangelicals’ support at forum RNC warned them not to attend (Raw Story link): Republican presidential candidates shared personal stories about their faith, their opposition to abortion and their support of Israel at the Family Leader’s Presidential Thanksgiving Forum in Des Moines Friday, hoping to win evangelical Iowans’ support in the 2024 Iowa caucuses.

Three candidates, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, participated in the roundtable discussion. Only two other candidates who were invited did not appear: U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, who dropped out of the race Sunday, and former President Donald Trump.

The former president, who holds a significant lead over his Republican rivals, has skipped the majority of “cattle call” events in Iowa as well as the Republican National Committee’s presidential debates where he would appear alongside other candidates. Instead, he typically holds his own, separate events, and this Saturday he plans to hold a rally in Fort Dodge.

Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats, who moderated the forum, asked candidates to avoid attacking other candidates during the discussion — but did bring up the derogatory nicknames and bashing that the presidential hopefuls have faced, referencing Trump’s terms for his opponents like “DeSanctimonious” for DeSantis and “Bird Brain” for Haley. “They’ve called me names and I’m not running for anything,” Vander Plaats said.

As the 2024 nominating cycle draws near, Republicans looking for an alternative to Trump are looking for the field to consolidate with conservatives rallying behind a single candidate. In the most recent Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll, DeSantis and Haley tied with 16% of likely Republican caucusgoers listing them as their first choice in the Jan. 15, 2024 caucuses.

Mod: More at the link. 

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