McCain says he'd prefer a Christian president

(AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Ummm, separation of church and state? Read on ...

GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain says he would prefer a Christian president over different faiths and called it "an important part of our qualifications to lead."

"I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles ... personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith," McCain said. "But that doesn't mean that I'm sure that someone who is Muslim would not make a good president."

Later, McCain said, "I would vote for a Muslim if he or she was the candidate best able to lead the country and defend our political values."

For more, read this story filed today out of Washington. What do you think? Do you have a religious preference for candidates?

--Paul Chavez