GOP Hopefuls Seek Conservative Support in Iowa

Republican presidential hopefuls spent the weekend in Iowa, hoping to win support from conservatives.

It's hard to believe the 2016 race for the White House is already underway, but it is. The two dozen Republican leaders who showed up at the Freedom Summit in Des Moines proved that point.

Speakers included: former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Dr. Ben Carson, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, just to name a few.

They each teed up comments designed to rally the conservative crowd.

"We do not need the government controlling our healthcare," Dr. Carson said to rousing applause.

"I have been such a vehement opposer of Obamacare," he continued. "Even if it worked I would oppose it; it doesn't. But even if it did I would oppose it... because I don't believe in taking the most important thing a person has, which is their health and their healthcare, and putting it in the hands of the government. Because if they have control of the most important thing you have, it's not long before they have control of your whole life."

Gov. Walker echoed those concerns about government control.

"We need leaders who understand the measure of success in government is not how many people are dependent on government," Walker said. "The measure of success in government is how many people are no longer dependent on the government."

And true to form, Gov. Huckabee offered colorful comments about trimming the size of government.

"Governing America is not always easy. There are two things you should never see: a law or a sausage made. I've seen both. To make sausage you need to kill pigs. A lot of people in America want the sausage but don't want to kill any pigs. We need to do some pig-killing," he said.

Social issues were also an important aspect of the event. Gov. Walker highlighted how his government has defunded Planned Parenthood, America's largest abortion provider.

Even New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie tried to earn some credentials as a social conservative, saying he's proof that pro-life Republicans can be elected in blue states.