On the Iowa caucus eve edition of ABC’s World News Tonight, Republican campaign correspondent Tom Llamas had another lead story that focused heavily on frontrunner Donald Trump, but also featured a bizarre question to Republican Senator Ted Cruz (Tex.) as he was leaving an Iowa church about praying for his opponents like Donald Trump and fellow Senator Marco Rubio (Fl.).
Llamas first mentioned that Trump stopped by a church for worship and “receiv[ed] a blessing from the pastor” before turning to Cruz who “also attend[ed] church” as the top two candidates have been “competing for those key evangelical voters.”
A clip was then played of Llamas and fellow reporters standing outside the church Cruz attended and after greeting Cruz and his wife, he first wondered: “Did you pray for victory?”
When Cruz responded that “I prayed for God's will to be done,” Llamas shot back: “Alright. Did you pray for Donald Trump or Senator Rubio?
Telling Llamas that he did indeed pray for them, the conservative senator added that he’s been “lifting up in prayers all he candidates who are running that god's blessing, peace, and love be upon them.”
The relevant portion of the transcript from ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir on January 31 can be found below.
ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir
January 31, 2016
6:03 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Race for 2016; Race to the Finish; Trump Pulls Ahead as Cruz/Rubio Battle]
TOM LLAMAS: Trump in church today, receiving a blessing from the pastor. Senator Ted Cruz, also attending church, both candidates competing for those key evangelical voters [TO CRUZ] Senator, happy Sunday. Did you pray for victory?
REPUBLICAN SENATOR TED CRUZ (Tex.): I prayed for God's will to be done.
LLAMAS [TO CRUZ]: Alright. Did you pray for Donald Trump or Senator Rubio?
CRUZ: You know what, I actually did. [SCREEN WIPE] I’m lifting up in prayers all he candidates who are running that god's blessing, peace, and love be upon them.
LLAMAS: In the final days, Cruz slipping, under heavy fire from Trump.
TRUMP: He was born in Canada and a lot of people say he can’t even be running for the election, so we’ll find out about that.
