McCain Rally Prayer

At an October 10, 2008, rally for Republican presidential candidate John McCain in Davenport, Iowa, Reverend Arnold Conrad delivered a prayer urging God to step up and support McCain so that persons of other religions don't think their god is "bigger than [Him]."¹

Fast Facts

McCain had not yet arrived at the rally²
McCain spokesperson Wendy Riemann responded quickly, calling the prayer a "distraction"²
Arnold Conrad is the former pastor of the Grace Evangelical Free Church in Davenport²

Quotes

"I would also pray Lord that your reputation is involved in all that happens between now and November, because there are millions of people around this world praying to their God -- whether it's Hindu, Buddha, Allah -- that his [McCain's] opponent wins for a variety of reasons.

"And Lord I pray that you would guard your own reputation, because they’re going to think that their god is bigger than you, if that happens. So I pray that you would step forward and honor your own name in all that happens between now and Election Day." -- Rev. Arnold Conrad¹

"While we understand the important role that faith plays in informing the votes of Iowans, questions about the religious background of the candidates only serve to distract from the real questions in this race about Barack Obama's judgment, policies and readiness to lead as commander in chief." -- McCain spokesperson Wendy Riemann²