Sen. Elizabeth Dole took one last parting shot Tuesday.

In an otherwise gracious concession speech last night, the Salisbury Republican referenced a contentious issue raised in two last-minute ads linking Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan to the Godless Americans PAC.

The group has called for the words "under God" to be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. Two last-minute ads criticized Hagan for attending a fundraiser hosted by a member of the PAC, implying that she supported that position. Hagan does not.

In her 15-minute speech, Dole said that she campaigned in Taylorsville last week, near monuments to the veterans of the Civil War and World Wars I and II.

"We began at the Taylorsville event with bowed heads and a prayer to our maker," she said. "And we did not begin our speechmaking until we faced the flag, placed our hands on our hearts and recited the Plege of Allegiance. And yes, we pledged allegiance to an America united as one nation, under God."

The remark drew sustained cheers and applause from the crowd.

Incidentally, Dole grew up pledging allegiance without mentioning God. Those two words were added in 1954, when she was 18 years old.

The N.C. Republican Party criticizes Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan ties to a political action committee for atheists in a recent mailer.

What the mailer says: Front page: Image of torn photo of children saying the Pledge of Allegiance. "Godless Americans Pac wants to remove 'Under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance. And now, they want Kay Hagan in the U.S. Senate..."

Inside pages: Pictures of Hagan and supporters of the Godless Americans PAC. "Liberal Kay Hagan flew to Boston to pocket campaign cash from leaders of the Godless Americans PAC. What is Godless Americans PAC? Godless Americans Political Action Committee is a left-wing organization based in Washington, DC - dedicated to 'Mobilizing America’s nonbelievers for political activism.'

"They actively support political candidates who are atheists and who also support their liberal agenda to remove 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance and force the Boy Scouts to accept atheists and homosexuals as troop leaders. Their goal is to remove any reference to God in the public arena, including eliminating the Christmas Holiday.

"Kay Hagan & the Godless Americans PAC. Liberal Kay Hagan flew to Boston to pocket campaign cash from leaders of the Godless Americans PAC, Wendy Kaminer and Woody Kaplan. They held a private fundraiser for Kay Hagan at their home in Boston, Massachusetts on September 15th. In North Carolina, Kay Hagan says she shares our values. But, behind our backs she’s the guest of honor at a fundraiser hosted by the most vile, radical liberals in America.

"We can't trust Kay Hagan to defend our North Carolina values."

Back page: Image of a torn photo of a mother and young daughter decorating a Christmas tree. "And, Godless Americans Pac wants to eliminate the Christmas holiday. And, they want Kay Hagan in the U.S. Senate."

The background: Hagan, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, attended a Sept. 15 fundraiser in Boston hosted by author Wendy Kaminer and her husband, Woody Kaplan. Kaplan is on the advisory board of the Godless Americans PAC, whose Web site says it supports candidates who are atheists and supports the separation of religion and government, including a "Godless pledge." It is not clear that Kaminer is a leader of the PAC.

Some readers may be left with the impression that Hagan supports the PAC's position on the Pledge of Allegiance, Christmas and the Boy Scouts — or that Hagan is an atheist.

Hagan's campaign said Hagan does not support removing "Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.

Hagan is an elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.

Hagan does not support eliminating the Christmas holiday. Her family often spends part of Christmas morning at a home for severely handicapped people, where they cook breakfast, wash dishes and play Santa Claus to relieve the home's staff.

Hagan's son is an Eagle Scout. Her campaign said that while Hagan opposes discrimination, she believes questions about who can be troop leaders is a decision for the Boy Scouts, not Washington, to make.

Is the mailer accurate? Yes and no. Hagan did attend the fundraiser in question. But the mailer incorrectly suggests that Hagan shares the view of the Godless Americans PAC on the Pledge of Allegiance, Christmas and the Boy Scouts.

— Bill Krueger

U.S. Rep. Walter Jones wants Americans to take some time in May to think about religious history.

Jones, a Farmville Republican, is co-sponsoring a resolution by GOP Rep. Randy Forbes of Virginia to designate the first week in May as "American Religious History Week."

Jones said in a statement that "it is crucial that our nation takes time to acknowledge and appreciate the importance of its religious history. I am hopeful that this resolution will serve as a reminder that religious freedom is at the very heart of America's constitutional and historical greatness."

Jones said the resolution is needed because of "relentless challenges" to the phrase "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.