O'Donnell attributes poll bump to prayer

DOVER, Del., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Christine O'Donnell, Delaware's Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, attributed her bump in recent polls to the power of prayer.

O'Donnell, a Catholic, linked a prayer group's event for her to a Rasmussen Reports poll indicating she nearly halved the lead Democrat Chris Coons has over her heading into the Nov. 2 election, The Hill reported. Despite her progress, the Rasmussen poll indicated Coons still led O'Donnell 51 percent to 30 percent.

"The day that we saw a spike in the polls was a day that some people had a prayer meeting for me that morning for this campaign, so I believe that prayer plays a direct role in this campaign, and I always ask please pray for the campaign; please pray for our staff; please pray specifically that the eyes of the voters be opened," O'Donnell said during an interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

O'Donnell, a Tea Party favorite, previously suggested faith plays a direct role in her campaign, telling CBN before her self-imposed media blackout that her faith didn't allow her to quit her primary challenge to centrist GOP Rep. Mike Castle, the establishment favorite she sent packing on primary night.