When I wrote about John McCain’s tv ad mocking Barack Obama as “The One,” it didn’t occur to me that “The One” might be code for “the antichrist” to some people.

But apparently there has been some chatter in certain circles about Obama’s similarity to the antagonist of the apocalyptic “Left Behind” novels.

Fortunately, the authors of those books, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, spoke out to set the record straight:

“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.”

Well, that settles it, then.