Skip to main content
Tags: cruz | endorsement | iowa | conservative | evangelicals

Cruz Wins Endorsement From Top Iowa Christian Conservative

Thursday, 10 December 2015 01:31 PM EST

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Thursday won the highly coveted endorsement of Iowa's Bob Vander Plaats, one of the most visible leaders of the Christian conservative movement in the state that starts the nomination voting.

A former high-school principal and three-time failed candidate for Iowa’s governorship, Vander Plaats leads an Iowa- based conservative advocacy group called the Family Leader that opposes abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

For months, speculation has run strong that Vander Plaats would endorse Cruz. Those assumptions were fueled by previous endorsements of the Texas senator by people close to Vander Plaats such as Iowa-based radio talk show host Steve Deace.

In 2008, Vander Plaats served as Mike Huckabee's state chairman and the former Arkansas governor won the Iowa caucuses. Four years later, he endorsed Rick Santorum two weeks before the caucuses and the former senator from Pennsylvania edged out Mitt Romney to win the contest on a late surge.

Vander Plaats has said he wanted to deliver his stamp of approval well ahead of the caucuses because he hopes it will help spur social conservatives to coalesce around a single candidate.

Last month, Representative Steve King, another influential figure with Iowa conservatives, also endorsed Cruz.

“The extraordinary leader that we need for these extraordinary times is U.S. Senator Ted Cruz,” Vander Plaats said at a news conference in Des Moines, emphasizing the need for social conservatives to coalesce around one person.

“If we are united, we will win,” he said. “If we're divided, we're going to repeat 2008 and 2012.”

To contact the author of this story: John McCormick inChicago at [email protected] To contact the editor responsible for this story: Elizabeth Titus at [email protected]

© Copyright 2024 Bloomberg News. All rights reserved.


Politics
Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Thursday won the highly coveted endorsement of Iowa's Bob Vander Plaats, one of the most visible leaders of the Christian conservative movement in the state that starts the nomination voting.A former high-school principal and...
cruz, endorsement, iowa, conservative, evangelicals
279
2015-31-10
Thursday, 10 December 2015 01:31 PM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved