This is … not a prominent line of attack here in New York. In fact, I didn’t realize that it was a prominent line of attack anywhere. Reporters love to press national Republican candidates on evolution to make them squirm but I thought this sort of thing flew mostly under the radar in statewide elections — especially in a political climate like this, with fiscal issues at the forefront. Not so: Not only is this now floating around the ‘Net, but Byrne’s heresies about Darwin and the Bible are prominently featured on websites devoted to attacking him.

The attacks are working like a charm too. Check out his long, anxious reply to the ad desperately trying to set the record straight:

If there was ever any doubt, these relentless government leeches have proven today that this election will determine whether Alabama moves forward and achieves the kind of future our citizens deserve, or falls backwards and remains under the dark cloud of the politics of the past…

I believe the Bible is the Word of God and that every single word of it is true. From the earliest parts of this campaign, a paraphrased and incomplete parsing of my words have been knowingly used to insinuate that I believe something different than that. My faith is at the center of my life and my belief in Jesus Christ as my personal savior and Lord guides my every action.

As a Christian and as a public servant, I have never wavered in my belief that this world and everything in it is a masterpiece created by the hands of God. As a member of the Alabama Board of Education, the record clearly shows that I fought to ensure the teaching of creationism in our school text books. Those who attack me have distorted, twisted and misrepresented my comments and are spewing utter lies to the people of this state.

Exit question: Does Bradley Byrne believe that man is descended from monkeys?