Trump rally in Texas Courtney M Sacco, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Jeff Kaufmann looked out onto the group of hungry conservatives.

The chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa was trying to get a message out, but he was also competing with several hundred people eatingtheir dinner.

"This is Trump country in a place where we really don't care what Mitt Romney thinks!" Kaufmann said, referencingthe former Republican nominee for president and now U.S. senator from Utah who has clashed with the president.

The attendees of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition fall banquet, who just seconds earlier were digging into fried chicken and green beans, dropped their forks and clapped enthusiastically.

Inside abuilding on the Iowa State Fairgroundsoften used for trade shows, Christian conservatives kicked off their race to the 2020 election Saturday.

On the agenda: Unflinching support for Trumpand other Republicans seeking to defeat Democratsup and down the ballot. The key to ensuring that, according to the multiple speakers, will beto elevatewhat they see as Trump'saccomplishments: improving theeconomy, appointing conservative judges, enforcing immigration laws and realizing an anti-abortion agenda.

"You cannot find another president in history that has laid out exactly what he was going to do, and then turned around like clockwork predictability, trust and integrity and carried it out to the T," Kaufmann said to the receptive crowd.

Several speakersalso said that conservatives must use their voices towarn about what could happen if Trump is defeated.

Kayne Robinson, a former chairman of the Iowa Republican Party of Iowa who has recentlyworked for the National Rifle Association,laid out a scenario in whichDemocrats reclaim the U.S. Senate and remove the chamber's 60-vote requirement that currently prevents simple majority votes to advance most pieces of legislation.

Democrat's priorities, according to Robinson:"Tax churches out of existence. Muzzle our speech. Physical roundup of guns and taxing ammunition out of existence. Socialized medicine... doubling the nationalspending. And taxes."

Robinson said he's heardcomplaints of "Trump's tweets and the way he talks."

"If Trump didn't do thisthe way he does it, every word he says would be translated to you by some so-called 'news people' who loathe himwho hate him and who loathe you and I, also,"Robinson said. "We would never really hear from Trump. It's his way of leaping over them."

The fall banquet had capped a remarkable day of politics in Iowa. It was 100 days until the first-in-the-nation caucuses, though not a single presidential candidate was in the state.

Instead, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had appeared hours earlier at Drake University. At the event, which included protesters outside, the powerful Democratic leadertalked about her reasoning for launching an impeachment inquiry against the president.

U.S. Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee,acknowledged Pelosi during his keynote address to the coalition.

"Speaker Pelosi, understand something:If you have it in you to bring it to the floor to impeach this president, then have the audacity and have the fortitude to bring it to a voteand make sure everybody knows where you stand," he said.

Ralph Reed, chairman of the national umbrella of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, spoke about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Reed said Democrats process in 2018 for investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh was unfair. Kavanaugh has denied all allegations against him.

This is what they do, Reed said of Democrats. And I dont know about you, but Im ready to not only get on my knees and pray that God have mercy on our nation again, as he did in 2016, but I will work my fingers to the bone for the next 12 monthsto make sure that they never have power in the White House or the U.S. Senate,Nancy Pelosi isnt speaker of the House ...

Reeds words became inaudible over the loud applause.

I not only want to ensure that Donald Trump serves another four years, I'm ready to repeal the 25th Amendment, after what hes done, Reed said. The 25th Amendment to the constitution lays out presidential succession and impeachment procedures.

Some nervous laughs followed from the audience before Reed quickly added: Not really."

Deborah Smithof West Des Moinessaid she left the event feeling empowered. The 63-year-old retiree has been attending the banquet for several years, and this year's was particularly important to her:Shedoesn't buy the impeachment inquiry and she supports the president.

"Over and over again, these people have taken lies and just made mountains out of molehills," she said. "It's just such an injustice to a man who is trying to do everything he can to turn this country around."

Barbara Rodriguez covers health care and politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at bcrodriguez@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8011. Follow her on Twitter @bcrodriguez.

Your subscription makes work like this possible. Sign up atDesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.

Read or Share this story: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2019/10/27/christian-conservatives-iowa-support-donald-trump-republicans-seeking-office-nancy-pelosi-caucuses/2478136001/

Read the original here:

Conservatives in Iowa kick off race to 2020 election with unflinching support for President Trump - Des Moines Register