DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have been sparring over national security and immigration policy as their rivalry intensifies in the Republican presidential primary race. Now their conflict is moving to Iowa and a powerful evangelical constituency that Rubio is making a play for, months after rivals sank roots.
Cruz and Rubio will appear Friday with a group of candidates at a forum hosted by the Family Leader, a prominent Iowa Christian organization that is expected to draw roughly 1,500 people to its event. Also on stage will be retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who has led some recent Iowa polls and has a strong evangelical following.
With support from pastors around the state and a recent endorsement from a conservative Iowa congressman, Cruz is in a strong position. But Rubio is about to embark on a five-day tour of the state that will include stops in conservative western Iowa and include meetings with pastors.
“I can tell you for a fact that there are a lot of pastors taking a second look at Marco Rubio because of his strong positions on national security and the pro-life issue,” said Jamie Johnson, a pastor from Story City who worked for former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s failed campaign and is now neutral in the race.
Christian conservative voters traditionally wield significant influence in the Iowa caucuses because they tend to be organized and motivated to participate. They will also hear Friday from two trailing candidates who achieved past Iowa victories with their help, Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Rick Santorum in 2012, as well as former technology executive Carly Fiorina and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.