DES MOINES — Gathered shoulder to shoulder around a Thanksgiving-themed table, five GOP presidential candidates vowed to defend Christian values from moral threats on Saturday by outlawing abortion and same-sex marriage.

A sixth candidate, Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, rejected the idea of federal bans, before the crowd of 3,000 gathered at First Federated Church, an evangelical church, saying he opposed both practices but believes the decision to be left up to the states.

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