Religious US broadcaster Pat Robertson dies at 93

Evangelical Christian person Pat Robertson died connected Thursday astatine the property of 93.

He was 1 of the driving forces of a question to summation the power of the spiritual close successful US politics.

In 1998, the broadcaster ran for president arsenic a Republican.

The quality was archetypal announced connected the Christian Broadcasting Network, the spiritual tv transmission that helium founded successful 1960.

For decades, Robertson hosted - and gained nationalist prominence done - a speech amusement connected the web called the 700 Club, which combined spiritual quality and governmental commentary with airy entertainment.

He besides founded the Christian Coalition, the organisation that grew to beryllium a pivotal subordinate successful Republican authorities starting successful the 1980s.

It provided endorsements and fiscal and organisational enactment to candidates who echoed their views connected hot-button societal issues similar abortion, spiritual liberty and "traditional" values.

In 1988, Robertson campaigned for the Republican statesmanlike nomination. He finished 2nd successful the Iowa Caucuses, down Kansas Senator Robert Dole, with the the enactment of the state's ample evangelical community. His run faltered aft eventual nominee and president George HW Bush won the New Hampshire primary.

Despite the defeat, Robertson's run demonstrated that evangelical Christians were a increasing unit successful Republican politics. The evangelical person would spell connected to go a kingmaker successful Republican authorities for decades thereafter.