Staff Reports
President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are set to take the stage together at a conservative political conference in Washington. This event, called Pray, Vote, Stand, will give attendees a rare opportunity to see these two Republican frontrunners side by side. The conference, organized by the Family Research Council, will bring together spiritually active, governance engaged conservatives. It will also feature other prominent Republican figures such as former Vice President Mike Pence and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Notably, this event comes on the heels of some tension between the supporters of DeSantis and Trump. At an Iowa football game, DeSantis was jeered by Trump supporters. And earlier at the Iowa State Fair, DeSantis faced heckling from supporters of the former president. However, amidst these incidents, the upcoming conference will give all four candidates a chance to test their messages with Evangelical Christians, a crucial constituency for Republican presidential hopefuls.
Interestingly, there seem to be some subtle differences between the candidates when it comes to their stances on abortion, a primary concern for Evangelicals. Pence has been the most vocal about his faith and has criticized Trump for suggesting that abortion should be left to the states. DeSantis, on the other hand, signed a ban on the procedure in Florida after six weeks of pregnancy, prompting Trump to comment that the measure seemed “too harsh.” This dynamic will certainly be an intriguing one to watch at the conference.
As the election season heats up, supporters of both Trump and DeSantis have been ratcheting up the campaign rhetoric. At recent events where both candidates appeared, there have been instances of jeering and airplane banners with sassy messages. While direct attacks between the candidates have been guarded, their supporters are not holding back. The upcoming conference will likely be a stage for more political theatrics and a chance for each candidate to prove their mettle.
Overall, Pray, Vote, Stand will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to witness the dynamic between Trump and DeSantis. With the added presence of other Republican figures and prominent evangelical pastors, this conference is sure to be a highlight of the political calendar. As the candidates vie for the support of Evangelical Christians and ultimately the Republican nomination, this event will be a crucial test for their messages and appeal to this key constituency.
