The Gazette: James Dobson joins evangelicals endorsing Donald Trump for president

(RNS) James Dobson has endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump for president, further boosting the candidate’s standing among evangelical voters.

The Focus on the Family founder released his endorsement on Thursday (July 21), hours before Trump was set to take the stage to accept his party’s nomination on the last night of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

And, while he said he made the endorsement only on behalf of himself and not on behalf of Focus on the Family or his Family Talk organization and radio program, he said, “Most evangelicals I know have decided for various reasons ­ that they will really have only have one choice for president, and that is Donald J. Trump.”

“I believe it’s a good choice. America needs strong and competent leadership,” he said.

Dobson, a member of Trump’s evangelical advisory board, had attended the meeting last month in New York City between Trump and nearly 1,000 evangelical Christians. He made headlines when he announced the candidate recently did “accept a relationship with Christ” and was now a “baby Christian,” something Trump still has not acknowledged.

His decision to endorse Trump came in direct response to Sen. Ted Cruz’s speech the night before at the convention, a Dobson spokesperson confirmed to RNS. The Texas senator had been booed when he it became clear he would not formally endorse the candidate.

The psychologist, author and radio host previously had endorsed Cruz.

In his endorsement, Dobson noted his enthusiasm for Trump’s choice of running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. Pence signed Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act as governor and had supported causes important to evangelicals as a congressman, opposing abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

He also said the presidential nominee has been “unwavering in his commitment to issues that are important to evangelicals such as myself.” He pointed to Trump’s promises to “appoint conservative Supreme Court justices, preserve religious liberty, rebuild the military and defend the sanctity of human life.”

Trump’s positions on abortion have varied, with him saying he was “very pro-choice” as late as 1999. But Dobson said he has chosen to evaluate Trump based not on his past “on what he says are his current convictions.”

“I believe God can change the hearts and minds of people and I celebrate when they support principles of righteousness,” the evangelical said.

Other evangelical leaders who have endorsed Trump include pastors Mark Burns and Paula White, who both have delivered prayers at this week’s Republican National Convention; Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr., who was scheduled to speak on the last night of the convention; Pastor Robert Jeffress and Ralph Reed of the Faith & Freedom Coalition.

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