Vivek Ramaswamy, who has Donald Trump's endorsement for governor, is riding high in the polls. Even though the primary is a year away, members of the Ohio Republican State Central Committee recently voted 60-3 to endorse him for the nomination.
The entrepreneur also recently met with 60 pastors at a Baptist church in Mansfield to discuss his positions on faith, family, and freedom.
"It was very, very productive," reports JC Church, founder and lead pastor of Victory in Truth Ministries, a non-denominational church in Bucyrus, Ohio. He coordinated the meeting.
"He listened very carefully, answered every question in a precise manner," the pastor relays. "There was no beating around the bush. You know exactly where he stands on the issues."
Noting the polling and heavy endorsements, Church says Ramaswamy is on a roll right now.
"The feeling is he's going to be our governor," he says. "We feel very strong about that."
The Christian pastor understands the concerns about Ramaswamy's Hindu religion, but he believes the former presidential candidate's assurance that his values on issues like abortion, education, and recreational drugs are the same.
"There are obvious differences there, but there are a lot of issues," says Church. "Are we going to blow the bridge up, or are we going to be able to have at least a conversation and a relationship?"
He says Christians want to continue to have dialogue and relationship with Ramaswamy and have "a voice at the table."
