DES MOINES, Iowa, April 24 (Reuters) - When the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition plays host to nine Republican White House hopefuls this weekend, the conservative Christian group will simply be pursuing its stated mission to "take back our state and country."
But the Republican contenders who will speak at the group's annual Spring Kick-Off face a more delicate balance: How to address pressure from the Christian group to toe the conservative line on a number of social issues such as abortion and gay marriage without alienating members of the broader party who are more focused on the economy or foreign policy.
Iowa holds the country's first nominating contests with its caucuses, giving the small, Midwestern state an outsized role in the presidential scrum. But winning the hearts and votes of the farmland state's large conservative bloc is not enough.
"Certainly Christian conservatives will be up to half of all the likely caucus goers," said Doug Gross, who chaired Mitt Romney's 2008 Iowa campaign. "You can't ignore what they care about."
But, he added, no candidate will be able to win the nomination on their backs alone. "You have to include them without letting them be your only source of support," he said.
Without a broad coalition of voters, many with different priorities or expectations, Republican hopefuls could find themselves locked out of the party nomination and thus the presidency.
The lineup underscores the importance of the Iowa event: Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, both spoken of as top-tier Republican White House aspirants; Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, and evangelical favorites Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum. Others on the agenda are Rick Perry, Governor Bobby Jindal and Carly Fiorina.
However, two high-profile Republicans who are expected to seek their party's nomination, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, will not be in attendance.
Candidates who do well in Iowa - especially against expectations - can find themselves gaining a powerful boost as they move on to campaign in other states.
Christian conservatives have been a reliable voting bloc for Republicans. In the 2014 House elections, 78 percent of white evangelicals voted Republican, according to Pew Research.
But determining how big a role evangelicals play in the party is difficult, with inconsistent research numbers, shifting attitudes nationally on social issues and changing U.S. demographics.
On gay marriage, for example, in 2001, only 35 percent of Americans supported same sex marriage, according to Pew Research polling. In 2014, 52 percent supported it.
But according to Reuters/Ipsos polling data, 61 percent of likely voters in Republican primaries oppose gay marriage.
"Where the Christian conservatives get into trouble ... is when they attempt to be exclusive, where you either share my world view or you're going to go to hell. That's not the approach you can take," said Gross."
U.S. Census numbers underscore changes in the voting population. The Census Bureau projects that the United States will become a majority-minority country by 2043, with no single racial group in the majority.
Still, social conservatives say they're aware that a range of issues will matter to voters in the 2016 election, and that no single candidate will likely give them everything they want.
"There's no candidate that can fix everything immediately," said Connie Schmett, a longtime Iowa Republican activist who plans to be at Saturday's event.
But social issues will dominate on Saturday, with questions on the economy and foreign policy receding, at least for the evening.
"Faith and freedom folks, its title sort of discloses the content," said Richard Schwarm, a former Iowa Republican Party chairman. (Reporting by Luciana Lopez; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.