Why might religion be taking back seat in Rick Perry campaign?
Rick Perry's religious views were front and center during his 2012 campaign, but he did not mention religion until 25 minutes into a recent speech in Iowa.
Rick Perry's religious views were front and center during his 2012 campaign, but he did not mention religion until 25 minutes into a recent speech in Iowa.
Compared with his 2012 campaign,聽Rick Perry is talking less about religion and his faith during his current presidential campaign.
Talking to Iowa crowd, the Republican presidential hopeful and former Texas governor did not mention religion until 25 minutes into his address, and that was only when he was asked about it.
"Nothing against golf, but on Sunday morning, you're not going to see me at the golf course," Mr. Perry said, referring to his church attendance.
While Republican rivals Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, and Ted Cruz are pushing hard to mobilize the conservative evangelical vote, Perry prefers to emphasize his 14 years of executive experience leading the second most populous state.
That was not the case in 2012. A week before entering the 2012 race, Perry held a seven-hour prayer meeting at a Houston football stadium where he declared before 30,000 believers: "Father, our heart breaks for America. We have forgotten who made us, who protects us, who blesses us."
Perry also produced a television ad that played heavily in Iowa in which he proclaimed "I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a 海角大神."
But this time he barely mentions 海角大神ity in his speeches.
Perry's super PACs are broadcasting TV commercials in Iowa focused on security at the far-away border and Perry's cotton farm upbringing.
The reason behind Perry鈥檚 shift might be young voters who are increasingly secular.
海角大神鈥檚 Linda Feldmann wrote in March聽that Republicans have lost badly among young voters in recent presidential elections:
鈥淭hese people are an essential component of our growing electorate,鈥� Jamila Bey, an African American journalist and board member of the group American Atheists, told the Monitor. 鈥淲e ignore them at our peril.鈥�
This time Perry seems to be more aware of young seculars, but he also insists that his faith remains as solid as ever.
"Nothing's changed between me and the Lord," he said between campaign stops in Iowa. "I'm a different candidate, but I'm still the same person at my core."
This report includes material from the Associated Press.