Bachmann signs pledge on marriage, pornography and Sharia law

WASHINGTON - To bolster her support among social conservatives, Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann has signed a pledge sponsored by a Christian group that asks candidates to oppose gay marriage and support other social issues.

Bachmann is the first GOP candidate to sign the pledge from the Family Leader, which is based in Iowa and run by an influential evangelical leader, Bob Vander Plaats, who was the state chair for Mike Huckabee's 2008 presidential campaign. Huckabee won the Iowa caucus that year in part thanks to the support of evangelical voters.

In addition to gay marriage, the pledge asks them to oppose pornography, vow "personal fidelity to my spouse" and reject "Sharia Islam and all other anti-woman, anti-human rights forms of totalitarian control." The pledge also asks candidates to commit to "downsizing government."

In a surprising absence from a social conservative document, the pledge contains no language asking that candidates oppose abortion.

Bachmann is one of several social conservatives in the Republican field, which also includes former Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Sen. Rick Santorum.

Former Govs. Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, both Mormons, are viewed with some suspicion by evangelical voters for past comments indicating support for abortion and same-sex unions.

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