WASHINGTON — Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry — with nowhere to go but up — is making an aggressive play to rise in Iowa by courting Christian evangelicals who could help revive his campaign.
The Texas governor on Wednesday started a month-long, $1.2 million ad campaign in the leadoff caucus state. He plans to spend more than $650,000 this week on an ad saying President Barack Obama is waging a "war on religion" and promoting Perry's Christian faith.
The ad, also running on national cable channels, serves as a contrast to both rivals Mitt Romney, a Mormon, and Newt Gingrich, a Catholic convert, as Perry makes a big play for Christian evangelicals who are lukewarm to both opponents.
Perry also planned a bus tour of South Carolina on Thursday.
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