North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole released a television ad suggesting that her Democratic challenger Kay Hagan took "godless money."
"A leader of the Godless Americans PAC recently held a secret fundraiser for Kay Hagan," the the 30-second ad says. "Godless Americans and Kay Hagan. She hid from cameras. Took godless money. What did Kay Hagan promise in return?"
CNN reports that the Dole campaign says it's basing the ad on Hagan's attendance at a fundraiser that was in the home of an adviser to the Godless Americans' political action committee, a group that promotes rights for atheists.
The Associated Press reports that Hagan's attorneys sent a cease-and-desist order to Dole's campaign, saying the "libelous" ad should come down within 24 hours. Dole's campaign said it has no plans to take it down.
Hagan defended herself, saying that she is a Sunday school teacher, an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, and has been involved in youth missions.
"It is so unbecoming of a woman like Elizabeth Dole," Hagan said in a conference call. "This is a fabricated, pathetic ad."
The ad ends with an unknown woman's voice calling out, "There is no God."
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