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GREENSBORO — A new television ad by Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s re-election campaign that ties her rival, state Sen. Kay Hagan, to an atheist group has provoked a threat of legal action from the Greensboro Democrat.

“I can’t tell you how upset I am that Elizabeth Dole is attacking my strong Christian faith,” Hagan said late Tuesday.

Hagan, who is an elder at First Presbyterian Church, said she is incensed by the ad because at the end it shows her picture with a female voice saying, “There is no God.”

Her campaign will hold a news conference in Greensboro today (audio from the news conference) to push back against the ad, and Hagan said lawyers for the campaign are preparing to send a cease-and-desist order demanding that Dole stop the ad.

“The ad is 100 percent accurate,” Dole spokesman Dan McLagan said. “If the truth hurts, that’s their problem.”

Dole is running the 30-second spot statewide, McLagan said.

The ad relies on information surrounding a September trip Hagan made to Boston for a fundraiser. Organized by the Democratic group ActBlue and sponsored by more than 30 people, it was held at the home of Wendy Kaminer and Woody Kaplan. He helped form Godless Americans PAC, a group that pushes to remove religious references from civic life.

The ad features clips of news footage and speeches involving the PAC and a voice-over intones: “Godless Americans and Kay Hagan. She hid from cameras. Took Godless money. What did Hagan promise in return?”

McLagan said it was “completely appropriate” to raise the issue, since U.S. senators play a role in nominating and confirming judges who could help the group.

“This questions whether or not Kay Hagan is receptive to their agenda,” McLagan said.
Hagan’s appearance at the fundraiser has been referenced in at least two direct-mail pieces sent by the N.C. Republican Party in the past month.

Those fliers helped spark discussions online, but the message has not gotten a great deal of attention from news outlets. This ad puts the issue front and center.

The suggestion that a candidate doesn’t believe in God is damning in North Carolina, where churches play a central role for millions of people, many of whom would not look kindly toward a politician who did not have some belief in God.

“A lot of voters go to church,” said Gary Pearce, a longtime political strategist who has worked mainly with Democrats. “You can’t run for political office in North Carolina as a 'Godless American.’”

Pearce said Dole’s move was risky and indicated that she was uncomfortable with her position in the polls. Public polling has shown Hagan within the margin of error or leading Dole for the past month.

“It’s always tempting to throw a hand grenade at the end of a close campaign,” Pearce said.
“The question is whether it blows up your opponent or comes back on you.”

Early voting is already under way, and Election Day is Tuesday.

Hagan was already sensitive to the suggestions surrounding this ad.

Even before the spot began airing Tuesday night, her campaign had taped a radio commercial featuring Hagan’s longtime minister who attested to her church membership and good works.
“I teach Sunday school. I’m an elder in my church. I go on mission trips,” Hagan said.

“I was raised going to Sunday school and church every week. I raised my children that way.
''This is the lowest of the low...I just am shocked by the audacity of Elizabeth Dole taking this kind of action.”

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com