If a blizzard was supposed to scare away Iowa voters, they didn't get the message! Yesterday's presidential caucus shattered turnout records in the state -- a sign that people are more engaged than ever in the search for the next president. More than 184,000 Iowa Republicans flooded the caucus sites despite the nasty forecast -- a 63,000-vote increase over 2012. Evangelical Christians made the biggest statement, clocking in at a whopping 64 percent of the GOP caucusgoers (up seven points from 2012) and solidifying their place as one of the most influential voices in the Republican nomination.
After seven years of watching the administration bulldoze their beliefs, the evangelical force seems to have awakened, and any candidate who refuses to take them seriously is doing so at their peril. The night belonged to values voters -- with 61 percent of the first-time caucusgoers breaking social conservatives' way. And, by extension, Senator Ted Cruz's (R-Texas). His strategy proved to be the winning one, as he rode Christians' energetic support all the way to victory. Forty-three percent of the party's most conservative voters swung to Senator Cruz, who outperformed his competitors across every age group. And, according to entrance polls, Ted won over the largest share of Iowa voters (37 percent) who said the most important quality was a nominee who "shares my values." Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) received 21 percent. Donald Trump, who has baffled analysts with his evangelical support, was a distant third at 5 percent.
After months of speculation, anyone wondering about the enthusiasm level of the values voter isn't wondering today. Despite the size of the GOP field, evangelicals helped Senator Cruz make history with the most votes for a single candidate in Iowa ever. Like a lot of Americans, the Hawkeyes see in Ted someone who not only shares their values -- but also has a record of actually fighting for them. Obviously, several candidates have been offering speeches to evangelicals who are angry and fearful about the direction of our country. But when they get close to casting a vote, it's clear from last night's results that the deciding factor is someone who shares their worldview. That may help to explain Senator Marco Rubio's (Fla.) surge, after stressing faith in his last week on the Iowa trail. His third place finish, within striking distance of Trump, makes the race even more interesting heading into moderate New Hampshire.
Meanwhile, liberals like Slate's Michelle Goldberg were eulogizing the social conservative movement -- only to backpedal hours later. Goldberg insisted the "Religious Right Is Losing Its Influence " the day before evangelicals out-voted every other demographic, claiming that religious activists were somehow "taken aback that many on the right no longer prioritize their concerns." No one is quite sure which race Goldberg is watching, since there has never been such a strong presence of social conservative candidates, values issues, and faith-based endorsements. If "evangelical power brokers are losing their influence," you could have fooled yesterday's top three finishers, who are fiercely competing to win the backing of evangelicals.
This morning, Goldberg wrote a piece walking back her premature obituary of the evangelical movement. "It turns out that the two things that have always mattered in Iowa Republican politics -- faith and an intensive grassroots operation -- still do." And that trend will continue well beyond Iowa, as long as Christians don't grow weary in well doing. By using our citizenship to participate in the process, and by bringing our beliefs into the arena, we're changing it! Keep it up. Click here to check out the primary and caucus dates in your state -- and make sure you're registered to make a difference! Also, don't forget FRC Action's helpful presidential voter guide.
Tony Perkins has provided an endorsement in his individual and personal capacity only, and it should not be construed or interpreted in any way as the endorsement of FRC, FRC Action, or any affiliated entity.
