The crowd of evangelical Christians giggled at the campaign video they were shown before Donald Trump made his appearance, especially at the photograph of him and his wife, Melania, in their New York penthouse — a home whose gold decor makes Versailles seem demure.
When Mr Trump finally strode on stage, however, they gave him a standing ovation. Few would have predicted such a welcome six months ago for a twice-divorced billionaire who has admitted never asking God for forgiveness.
Mr Trump’s support across the Bible belt has been one of the oddest features of a consistently weird election but he has courted born-again Christians assiduously for months.
His work was set to pay off yesterday: evangelicals made up the largest voting bloc in six southern states that held primaries on Super Tuesday and they were expected to flock to him.
At Regent University, a large evangelical institution in Virginia, he was on his best behaviour during a recent campaign stop. Mr Trump sat upright on a theatre stage, earnest and attentive, as if he were present for a job interview. His two sons, Eric and Donald Jr, made an appearance and told the audience what a great dad he was.
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Mr Trump still managed to make waves. John Kerry, the secretary of state, would be a better negotiator if he had read the tycoon’s autobiography, The Art of the Deal, he said, adding that Mr Kerry, a devout Catholic, “probably didn’t read the Bible either”.
The remark came just days after Mr Trump, who is Presbyterian, had rebuked the Pope for questioning his own faith, but his host let it pass. Pat Robertson, the influential evangelical pastor who was leading the event, chuckled at Mr Trump’s jokes and told him: “You inspire us all.”
Mr Trump reciprocated by stressing his support for Israel and by affirming himself to be strictly anti-abortion.
The evangelical voters who came to see him at Regent University crisply summed up his appeal. “He’s not tainted, he’s not owned . . . He has nothing to lose nor gain,” said Dylan Spratt, 24, a policeman.
Evonne Dixon, 54, a degree student and tutor, said: “He shoots straight from the hip, he is no-nonsense. I think his business success will translate well as a president. His skills are sorely needed.”
