Three leading Republican presidential contenders, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, attended an evangelical forum in Des Moines, Iowa. The event, hosted by the Christian group the Family Leader, was marked by personal stories and a friendly atmosphere, with the candidates addressing each other by their first names and often agreeing on issues.
However, the event was not without its disruptions. A climate protester interjected with shouts of 'Repent! Repent!' arguing that the politicians' pro-life stance was inconsistent with their lack of action on climate change. Despite this interruption, the forum continued with discussions on topics such as abortion, foreign policy, and faith.
DeSantis and Ramaswamy shared personal stories about their wives' miscarriages, while Haley reiterated her support for South Carolina's stance on certain issues. Interestingly, DeSantis criticized former President Donald Trump, describing him as a 'high-risk' candidate. Despite the friendly atmosphere, there were signs of rivalry between the candidates, particularly between DeSantis and Haley.
The event was attended by 800 evangelical voters and was moderated by influential evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats. The forum provided an opportunity for the presidential hopefuls to connect with potential voters and discuss their views on a variety of topics.