Race for White House coming to Texas

The Republican battle for the White House shifts gears, at least temporarily, today.

That’s when it moves to Texas, away from traditional key early states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

For a few hours, at least half a dozen GOP presidential candidates — former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, business executive Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum — plan to be at a megachurch in Plano.

There, during an hours-long North Texas Presidential Forum, they are expected to talk about Christian values and try to convince voters to support their bid for president.

“This is what Republicans do — go to churches in big Republican states,” said Bill Miller, an Austin-based political consultant. “They are going to talk to that audience so they remain the favored person with social conservatives.

“They don’t want to lose ground by not being there.”

Prestonwood Baptist Church officials last month invited anyone running for president, including Democrats, to talk to the crowd and have a discussion on stage with Pastor Jack Graham “regarding critical issues and how faith impacts their lives.”

Sunday’s forum is expected to be the largest gathering of presidential candidates in Texas so far this political season and potentially the last time the candidates share a stage on Feb. 26 in Houston during the final debate before the March 1 primary.

“This is one of the very few times when Texas actually has a role in presidential politics,” said Jim Riddlesperger, a political science professor at Texas Christian University. “Once the nomination is secured, Texas no longer has a role and neither candidate likely will come here unless they are trying to raise money.”

Democrats say they expect to hear more of the same from the Republicans participating in the forum.

“If the GOP debates are any guide, Texas voters will hear a lot about taking away people’s healthcare, kicking immigrants out of the country, and giving more tax breaks to the super-rich,” said Eric Walker, a spokesman with the Democratic National Committee. “They probably won’t hear much about growing wages, ensuring equal pay or making college affordable.

“For that — they should watch a rerun of last [week’s] Democratic debate.”

Religious liberty

The 40,000-member Prestonwood megachurch teamed up with the Faith & Freedom Coalition, a Christian Coalition group founded by former George W. Bush-campaign adviser Ralph Reed, to sponsor the event.

“Religion is very much a part of Americans’ expectations for presidents, even though some candidates and presidents show their religion more strongly than others,” said Matthew Esbaugh-Soba, a political science professor at the University of North Texas in Denton.

“The religious right is a key constituent of Republican voters and, in some ways, it serves as a litmus test for candidates.”

Tickets to the event are free, but were quickly claimed. The forum is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Sunday. Candidates will not be on the stage together, organizers say.

The goal, officials said, is to show voters where candidates stand on faith and other issues, likely including religious liberty, which has been a hot topic since the Supreme Court this summer swept away longtime bans against same-sex marriage.

Some clerks in Texas and throughout the country initially refused to issue licenses to same-sex couples. A Kentucky county clerk was jailed last month for refusing to do so; the most prominent case in Texas — in Hood County — has been resolved.

“Christians and faithful Catholics are increasingly concerned about perceived hostility toward faith in America,” Timothy Head, executive director of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, said in a statement. “Leading voices of faith are taking a clear stand for the fundamental American principle that no one of any faith should be compelled by government to violate their conscience or deeply-held faith.”

“We cannot afford to stand on the sidelines as our Christian values are continually trampled,” Graham, a former Southern Baptist Convention president, said in a statement. “This forum is a great opportunity to hear from many of the candidates seeking to lead our country.”

Texas ties

Candidates have many reasons to attend the North Texas forum, political observers say.

It’s a chance to reach out to the religious right — and try to make inroads in this delegate-rich state.

“Texas is a huge prize for Republicans,” said Bruce Buchanan, a political science professor at the University of Texas who specializes in presidential politics. “It’s most likely going to go for the Republican nominee and enhance the primary performance of the winner.”

Many of those attending the North Texas forum have Texas ties: Fiorina was born in Austin; Bush was born in Midland, grew up in Houston and attended the University of Texas; Huckabee studied at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth a few decades ago; Cruz is the junior senator f rom Texas; and Santorum spends time in North Texas because of business interests.

And many of the candidates are traveling to North Texas for fundraisers or campaign appearances, such as Santorum, who last week announced a tax plan in Fort Worth, and Carson, who plans to hold a book signing in Fort Worth Tuesday.

Texas has long served as an ATM for Republican and Democratic presidential candidates alike, having already sent candidates a total of more than $7.5 million — the bulk of which has gone to Cruz and Bush — for next year’s election.

“Texas money and votes will help determine the nominee,” said Miller, of Austin. “We will be a big factor.”

No Democrats?

Six Republicans agreed to attend the North Texas forum.

Leading Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were among those who were invited to the event, but neither responded, according to the Prestonwood website.

Esbaugh-Soha said he understands why Democrats are expected to be MIA from the Texas forum.

“This strikes me to be a Republican event — I mean it is Texas and most Baptists in Texas are Republican,” he said. “So there is not much to be gained by Democrats by attending this event.”

This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Race for White House coming to Texas."