Sen. Rand Paul, who’s widely seen as a potential national figure whose father Ron’s role in the GOP primary could ultimately boost, gave a heavily faith-based speech at an Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event - in which he talked about government morality, his stand against abortion and President Obama’s gay marriage evolution, via Patch:

“There is a sickness out there that needs more than political leadership. It needs spiritual leadership,” he said. “In that cause, I’ll do the best that I can.”

Paul, the keynote speaker, went on:

“I tend not to wear my faith on my sleeve,” he said, adding later that “I see decisions government makes almost always in moral terms.”

He spoke about his opposition to abortion and gay marriage, his fiscal conservativism and his opposition to war….

His strongest partisan line was to criticize President Barack Obama’s position on gay marriage.

“He said that his views were evolving on marriage. Call me cynical, but I didn’t think his views on marriage could be any gayer,” Paul said.

The Des Moines Register has more on Paul’s trip, during which, at an earlier stop, he said the GOP needs the Paulites to grow as a party.

Tops at the Politico

1. Bush ‘04 pollster: Change in attitudes on gay marriage across the board

2. A ‘vicious’ Romney prank?Romney on pranks: ‘Some may have gone too far, and for that I apologize’