Iowa Republican: Issue of Life Takes Center Stage in Iowa Last Night

The hottest ticket in Des Moines last night was for the premiere of The Gift of Life, a pro-life documentary hosted by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee winner of the 2008 GOP Iowa Caucus. Hoyt Sherman Auditorium was filled to the brim with more than 1,300 people who turned out 10 days before Christmas for the hour-long film.

Four of the GOP presidential candidates took the opportunity to speak to the audience of social conservatives about their stances on the sanctity of human life. Huckabee made a point to tell the audience that while all of the candidates had been invited to the event Rep. Michelle Bachmann, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Rick Santorum “cleared their schedules and made this a priority event.”

For candidates and pundits who think the life issues have taken a back seat to the economy and unemployment in the upcoming election, last night’s attendees would suggest otherwise. After watching the documentary Matthew Berends, a business major at Drake University who is a pro-life voter said he was impressed with The Gift of Life. Holly Schmidt, a Drake University student majoring in writing who attended the premiere with Berends said, “The film was very moving.” The Drake students said that where a candidate stands on is important to them, they find themselves in a minority on a college campus when it comes to being pro-life.

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