DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Republican presidential contenders seeking to woo evangelical voters are making their case for conservative social issues at a gathering expected to attract thousands of potential Iowa caucus-goers.
Ten candidates are scheduled to appear Saturday in Ames at the annual Family Leadership Summit. No one seeking the GOP nomination has emerged as a clear favorite among evangelical voters.
“They understand that this base has been very influential in past caucuses,” said Bob Vander Plaats, president of the Family Leader, the conservative organization sponsoring the event.
Vander Plaats, who has not endorsed any candidate in the 2016 race, expressed concern that the Christian conservative vote might be split up between multiple candidates, diluting its impact.
“The goal would be in this summit, and any subsequent venue or event, that we would start recognizing a leader we could unite around and champion – and try to get the person across the goal line,” he said.