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GOP hopefuls chide Cain on abortion

Herman Cain, former chairman and chief executive officer of Godfather's Pizza, participates in a presidential debate sponsored by Bloomberg and The Washington Post held at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011. The event moderated by U.S. television talk show host Charlie Rose and featuring eight Republican candidates, presents the first debate of the 2012 political season focused solely on the economy. UPI/Daniel Acker/Pool
Herman Cain, former chairman and chief executive officer of Godfather's Pizza, participates in a presidential debate sponsored by Bloomberg and The Washington Post held at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011. The event moderated by U.S. television talk show host Charlie Rose and featuring eight Republican candidates, presents the first debate of the 2012 political season focused solely on the economy. UPI/Daniel Acker/Pool | License Photo

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The Republican presidential contenders professed their faith and anti-abortion credentials to a conservative audience in Iowa Saturday.

The venue was the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition banquet in Des Moines where opposition to abortion was a major topic and a common trait among the candidates.

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"From conception, no abortions, no exceptions," declared Herman Cain, who CBS said raised eyebrows with his recent statement suggesting abortion should not be regulated by government.

Cain's opponents weren't buying his reassurances. CBS said they took turns scolding him for supposedly being wobbly on the controversial issue.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said it was "a liberal canard to say I am personally pro-life but government should stay out of the decision."

Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania dismissed Cain as a true pro-life leader. "You have people up here who will tell you that they're for that, but will they push the debate?" he said.

The event came 10 weeks before the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, which could amplify the importance of Saturday's performances among an important voting bloc.

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National Public Radio noted the banquet was important enough to bring in Reince Priebus, chairman of the National Republican Committee, to urge attendees to be a little flexible when judging the candidates.

"There is no such thing as a perfect candidate," Priebus said. "We have so much to fight for in this election."

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