John McCain, the Episcopalian who goes to a Baptist church, when asked by Beliefnet “Have the candidates’ personal faith become too big an issue in the presidential race?” Offered up an answer that put him on par with Bush for putting his foot in it.

Questions about that are very legitimate. . . . And it’s also appropriate for me at certain points in the conversation to say, look, that’s sort of a private matter between me and my Creator.

To this point he was a publicist’s dream but he couldn’t stop:

But I think the number one issue people should make [in the] selection of the president of the United States is, “Will this person carry on in the Judeo Christian principled tradition that has made this nation the greatest experiment in the history of mankind?”

He was given a chance to backdown with the next question, but like an energizer bunny…

Beliefnet: It doesn’t seem like a Muslim candidate would do very well, according to that standard.
McCain: I admire the Islam. There’s a lot of good principles in it. I think one of the great tragedies of the 21st century is that these forces of evil have perverted what’s basically an honorable religion. But, no, 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 has a solid grounding in my faith. But that doesn’t mean that I’m sure that someone who is Muslim would not make a good president. I don’t say that we would rule out under any circumstances someone of a different faith. I just would—I just feel that that’s an important part of our qualifications to lead.

Beliefnet’s God-o-Meter has McCain at a solid eight since this interview. Clinton and Obama are tied at seven. Is this what campaigns have become, merely a litmus test of whose got that old time religion?