Sam Clovis in 2014 Iowa Senate Debates

On Abortion: Human life begins at conception

Clovis: Strongly Agree.

Question topic: Should abortion be allowed under extenuating circumstances? If so, what circumstances?

Clovis: I am a Catholic and cannot find my way to exceptions of any kind for abortion. Who protects the unborn if not those who are empowered by the Constitution? It is, after all, the main role of government to protect its citizens.

On Budget & Economy: BBA to stop saddling generations to come

Clovis: Strongly Agree

Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.

Clovis: Balanced Budget Amendment: Our current profligate spending is ruinous in nature and will saddle generations to come with burdensome debt that will continue to retard the growth of our economy. Further, a BBA will limit the influence of special interests, the most corrupting aspect of government today.

On Civil Rights: Government shouldn't redefine marriage

Clovis: Strongly Agree

On Energy & Oil: No subsidies for wind and solar

Clovis: Strongly Disagree

On Government Reform: Photo ID for voting

Clovis: Strongly Disagree

On Gun Control: Opposes more gun restrictions

Clovis: Strongly Disagree

On Health Care: Repeal ObamaCare; it's not a government responsibility

Clovis: Strongly Disagree

Question topic: The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) should be repealed by Congress.

Clovis: Strongly Agree

On Homeland Security: Maintain a superior nuclear arsenal

Clovis: Strongly Agree

On Immigration: Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry

Clovis: Strongly Agree

On Principles & Values: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework

Clovis: Strongly Disagree.

Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Clovis: Strongly Agree.

Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Clovis: I was raised evangelical and converted to Catholicism while in college. Thus, I am a conservative Catholic with a very wide evangelical streak. I drifted away from my faith until I had a "road to Damascus" moment in 1990. I had to pick young men to go off to war and found that I could not do that without getting back on my knees to ask for strength and wisdom. I have been on a spiritual journey back ever since. I live my faith, have accepted Christ as my Savior, witness for Him and hold strongly to the Word of God. I have been endorsed by [several] Pastors--all established evangelical faith leaders in Iowa.

On Energy & Oil: Obama's "Climate Resilience Fund" just redistributes wealth

"Serious research and hard work have gone into building resilience in communities around the country," continued Clovis. "The President's plan is nothing more than a grandstand play to take attention away from his failed administration. Of course, one has come to expect such deception and diversion from this administration. It is hard to believe that so many in whom we have entrusted our governance could be so truthfully challenged."

On Education: FactCheck: Common Core originated with governors, not feds

Clovis said about the Common Core: "One of the most important tenets of a conservative platform is parental local control of education. Unelected national bodies [such as the federal Department of Education] establishing education policy for the entire country is the opposite of local control. Establishing national standards, employing unproven testing, and administering suspicious assessment processes while conducting privacy-invading data mining runs counter to common sense governance and proven conservative principles."

On Education: Common Core is federal overreach in spending and control

Over 40 states, including Iowa, accepted Common Core standards when the federal government offered grants and No Child Left Behind waivers as part of Obama's Race To The Top stimulus spending. Bevin continued by saying that the outlandish expense alone is reason to oppose this federal overreach in education. "Establishing national standards, employing unproven testing, and administering suspicious assessment processes while conducting privacy-invading data mining runs counter to common sense governance and proven conservative principles."

On Budget & Economy: Top priority: Balancing the budget

"Jobs and economy," said State Senator Joni Ernst.

"Balancing the budget," answered former State Attorney Matt Whitaker.

"Grow the economy," said Dr. Sam Clovis.

With an ever growing list of Republican candidates the biggest challenge, right now, may be standing out in a crowded field. "I am certainly not the status quo, and I won't represent the status quo. The American people are sick of that, and they want real change, by real people, who will do things that will really change this country and get it back on track," Clovis said.

After the forum, the audience cast their vote in a straw poll. With 57-votes, the king of the palace Monday night was Sam Clovis. The winner of the Republican Primary will likely face Bruce Braley, the only Democrat in the race.

On Health Care: Keep ObamaCare rule: kids can stay on parent's plan until 26

Clovis praised two senators, Lee and Cruz, who fueled the movement to use the shutdown as leverage to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare. Clovis said he'd keep the pieces that allow adult children to stay on a parent's policy until age 26, and the pieces related to high-risk and pre-existing conditions. But he said it's an immoral law because it adds $150 billion a year in national debt.

"I've read the bill, and I challenge anyone else in this building to say they've read the bill. And I've read every word of it," Clovis said.

On Welfare & Poverty: Don't trading spending cuts for entitlement reform

On Gun Control: Reduce gun violence but not by punishing gun manufacturers

Sam Clovis responded, "You know Congressman Braley has been in Washington too long when he believes Iowans would support his position that recent assaults on our Second Amendment by the US Senate weren't liberal enough. Our state deserves a Senator who will stand up for the Second Amendment. It is clear Braley wants to advance the left's agenda by raising the specter of liability for gun manufacturers in relation to gun violence. Reducing violence is a goal we all share, but punishing manufacturers, lawful gun dealers and gun owners by infringing on our Second Amendment is not the way to achieve it."