PLANO, Texas (AP) β Six Republican presidential candidates have made personal appeals to thousands of Christian conservatives at a megachurch in suburban Dallas, underscoring the importance of the evangelical vote.
The candidate forum at Prestonwood Baptist Church featured Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. Front-runner Donald Trump didn’t attend.
Prestonwood Pastor Jack Graham said all of the major candidates from both parties were invited to attend, but only Republicans accepted. Graham identified the 7,000 people in attendance as evangelical “Christians who believe the Bible.”
The candidates answered questions about their personal faith and how they would apply it to public policy.
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%@AP Links
219-a-13-(Dr. Ben Carson, Republican presidential candidate, at presidential candidates forum)-“call it schizophrenia (applause fades)”-GOP presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson says recognition of God is on U.S. currency and is essential to America’s heritage. (18 Oct 2015)
< 221-a-13-(Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, GOP presidential candidate, at presidential candidates forum)-“on your conscience”-GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush says religious rights are at risk in America today. (18 Oct 2015) < 202-a-10-(Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania Senator and GOP presidential candidate, at presidential candidates forum)-“to do that”-Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum says the private sector should do more to alleviate poverty. (18 Oct 2015) < 204-a-11-(Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and GOP presidential candidate, at presidential candidates forum)-“have criminalized Christianity”-Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee says Kentucky clerk Kim Davis shouldn’t have been jailed. (18 Oct 2015) < 187-a-12-(Carly Fiorina, Republican presidential candidate, at presidential candidates forum)-“seen me through”-GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina says her faith has been tested. (18 Oct 2015) < 190-a-12-(Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, GOP presidential candidate, at presidential candidates forum)-“and religious liberty (applause fades)”-Texas Senator and GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz says many Christians don’t bother to vote. (18 Oct 2015) <
