Rand Paul, who brought up the rear with 0 percent.
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Cruz, with 35 percent of support, was followed by neurosurgeon-turned-politician Ben Carson, with 18 percent of the vote.
“I am humbled and honored to have the support of so many Christian Conservatives”, the candidate said in a statement.
Summit attendees also selected their pick for vice presidential nominee, choosing Carson, Fiorina and Cruz respectively in the top three slots. Each rely on the voting bloc as a core piece of their electorate, but the huge win for Cruz is likely encouraging considering recent polls showing the senator outside of the top tier with evangelicals.
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump finished fifth in the straw poll of the Values Voters Summit on Saturday.
KATY TUR, live from the Values Voters Summit in Washington, D.C.
“The straw poll sends a message that values voters are looking to support candidates who not only understand the threats to our freedoms, but will boldly lead the way in standing up for and defending these freedoms”, Family Research Council Action President Tony Perkins said.
While speaking at one of his Trump golf courses in Southern California recently, the real estate mogul told Brody: “Well I say God is the ultimate”.
“So this is more reflective of what may be coming a few months down the road, as opposed to where the general social conservative community is today”, he said. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., “a clown” and criticized his past support for comprehensive immigration reform.
A split has emerged between so-called “establishment” candidates, who are experienced politicians, and those who have positioned themselves as Washington outsiders.
The results confirm Cruz, Carson and Huckabee’s strength among religious conservative voters.
And Cruz has apparently been seen as their insurgent leader, at least for now. “He didn’t all of a sudden become conservative just because he’s running for office”.
Cruz stood with Navy chaplain Wes Modder, who was recently cleared by Navy Personnel Command in a case where he was accused of misconduct for counseling Marines against premarital sex and homosexuality, and with Liz Loverde, a New Jersey college student who said in 2014 that her high school forbade her to create a Christian club.
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Carson said, “I really get irritated when people complain about America. In total, 2,700 religious conservatives registered to attend the summit held this weekend”.
