Del. House candidate targeted for remarks

WILMINGTON - A Democratic congressional candidate's ad is reminding voters that Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell isn't the only Delaware Republican who has questioned the idea of separation of church and state.

Republican Glen Urquhart likened the concept to Nazism at a campaign event in April, and his remarks, captured on video, are being used by his opponent, John Carney. The men are seeking the state's lone House seat.

"The exact phrase separation of church and state came out of Adolf Hitler's mouth," Urquhart told his audience. "That's where it comes from. So next time your liberal friends talk about the separation of church and state, ask them why they're Nazis."

At a Senate debate this week, O'Donnell created a stir by challenging opponent Chris Coons to show where the Constitution requires separation of church and state, repeatedly questioning Coons' response that the First Amendment bars the government from making laws establishing religion.

Urquhart has expressed regret for what he called a fumbled effort to make the point that tyrants tend to abuse the separation of church and state.

His spokesman, David Anderson, said Urquhart firmly supported the First Amendment's ban on the government's establishing religion.

But he said Urquhart also thought the government had gone too far in limiting people's rights to express their religion by restricting athletes from holding prayers at high school football games, for example. "The pendulum swung the other way," Anderson said.

James Allen, Carney's spokesman, said Urquhart's comments were "very clear."

"Delaware voters don't want extreme ideologues like Mr. Urquhart," Allen said.

Carney and Urquhart are running for the seat held by Rep. Mike Castle, the Republican who gave up his spot to run for the Senate, only to lose the primary to O'Donnell.

Castle's seat is a rare pickup chance for Democrats, expected to lose dozens of seats.