Pat Robertson, Christian televangelist and one-time presidential candidate, dies at age 93

Pat Robertson, the prominent televangelist who founded the Christian Broadcasting Network, made the Christian right a powerful political force and unsuccessfully ran for president in 1988, died on Thursday, the network said in a news release.

"Pat Robertson, longtime TV host, religious broadcaster, educator, humanitarian, and one-time presidential candidate died at his home in Virginia Beach early Thursday morning. He was 93," the release said.

Regent University in Virginia also released a statement saying it was mourning the loss of Robertson.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved founder," Regent University Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs William L. Hathaway said. "Dr. Robertson was a globally-renowned leader, broadcaster, philanthropist, educator, author, accomplished businessman, and - most importantly - a faithful servant of God who dedicated his life to glorifying the Lord and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Born in 1930, Robertson founded the Christian Broadcasting Network in 1960 and was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister a year later. He used that perch, including his daily show "The 700 Club" - named for its goal of 700 members whose pledges would keep the station afloat financially - to push his message of conservative Christian values to people at home, taking aim at gay rights, feminism, abortion and other social issues.

Robertson helped transform the conservative evangelical movement into a political force on the American right that helped elect Ronald Reagan. He then ran for the Republican nomination for president in 1988, coming in behind both George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole.

Afterward, he founded the Christian Coalition of America, which promoted conservative Christian political candidates, and returned to "The 700 Club."