Perry targets ‘Obama’s war on religion’ in ad

Rick Perry’s presidential campaign released another TV ad Wednesday focusing on the candidate’s faith, set to air in Iowa.

“I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a Christian, but you don’t need to be in the pew every Sunday to know there’s something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school,” Perry says in the ad, speaking directly into the camera, which has become his signature style in previous Iowa ads. “As President, I’ll end Obama’s war on religion. And I’ll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage.”

{mosads}Perry released three TV ads in Iowa last week, and has clearly targeted the state’s large population of evangelical voters with ads discussing his Christian faith. 

“Rick Perry’s Christian faith has played a key role in his life and leadership, just as it has in the founding and life of the United States of America,” Ray Sullivan, Perry’s communications director, said in a statement last week. “Gov. Perry is guided by faith every day as he travels our great country discussing his strong social and fiscal conservative values, record and vision with voters in Iowa and across the nation.”

In the latest ad, Perry refers to an accomplishment that the White House is touting as one of the top achievements of President Obama’s first term: Overturning the military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy against openly gay service members.

On Tuesday, Perry criticized the Obama administration’s decision to make foreign aid decisions based on gay rights.

“This is just the most recent example of an administration at war with people of faith in this country,” Perry said in a statement. “Investing tax dollars promoting a lifestyle many Americans of faith find so deeply objectionable is wrong.”