Contact: Beverly Rykerd, 719-481-0537, Beverly@rykerd.com

CAROL STREAM, Ill., Aug. 8 /Christian Newswire/ -- John McCain's campaign ad "The One" has generated a lot of buzz regarding the "Left Behind Series." Political commentators are comparing McCain's portrayal of competitor Barack Obama with the blockbuster apocalyptic series' depiction of the antichrist. But even the series authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins don't think Obama is the antichrist. What may have been created as a farce has generated a firestorm of controversy on the internet.

LaHaye and Jenkins take a literal interpretation of prophecies found in the Book of Revelation. They believe the antichrist will surface on the world stage at some point, but neither see Obama in that role. "I've gotten a lot of questions the last few weeks asking if Obama is the antichrist," says novelist Jenkins. "I tell everyone that I don't think the antichrist will come out of politics, especially American politics."

"I can see by the language he uses why people think he could be the antichrist," adds LaHaye, "but from my reading of scripture, he doesn't meet the criteria. There is no indication in the Bible that the antichrist will be an American."

Jenkins and LaHaye don't take McCain's commercial or the antichrist speculation over Obama too seriously.

Pundits have pointed out that there are similarities between the "Left Behind Series" character Nicolae Carpathia and Obama. Other than some vocabulary and charisma, Carpathia, a young Romanian politician who eventually oversees a one-world government, and Obama don't have much in common. "If even the people who created the character Nicolae Carpathia don't see the comparisons as warranted, then perhaps this is overblown," says Jenkins.

"Left Behind" is a series of 16 apocalyptic novels (1995-2007/Tyndale House Publishers) using end time prophecies in Revelation as a framework. All sixteen books reached the "New York Times" bestseller list with seven reaching the #1 spot. Overall more than 63 million copies have sold in the "Left Behind" product line. For more information on the "Left Behind Series," visit www.leftbehind.com.

Press contact: Beverly Rykerd at Beverly@rykerd.com or (719) 481-0537.