SALT LAKE CITY -- The Democratic nominee in Utah's 3rd Congressional District told The Salt Lake Tribune that Jesus would vote for him if he had the chance.

"I absolutely have no idea whatsoever," he told The Associated Press on Friday. "I think voters have to make the decision based on studying the issue and studying the person and try to best decide the challenges they face in their life."

Spencer is writing a book about how Jesus would view certain policies. He said that his comment about who Jesus would vote for came in response to a question about immigration policy. He says Jesus would support a "very compassionate" immigration policy.

Spencer is facing Republican Jason Chaffetz in the November election. Chaffetz takes a strict stance on illegal immigration and has said he supports tent-style detention camps and deportation.

"If anything is more sacrilegious, it's to claim to be a believer of God and put someone in a tent city because of their ethnic persuasion," Spencer told the newspaper.

Chaffetz said Spencer crossed the line.

"I believe there is a proper role of religion in our society and we ought to promote that and not run away from it," Chaffetz said. "But I don't think it's appropriate to guess which candidate Jesus Christ would support. That's sacrilegious to me."

Chaffetz defeated six-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon in Utah's June 24 primary for the Republican nomination in the district, where voters are primarily surburban residents in Utah and Salt Lake counties.

This isn't the first time religion has been injected into the 3rd District race. Cannon's primary opponent last year, John Jacob, saw his campaign tank after he said the devil was working against him.

Quin Monson, assistant director of Brigham Young University's Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, said references to religion in politics usually aren't so blunt.

"I think what Bennion Spencer seems to be doing is a little more unusual, and because of that is likely to make some voters uncomfortable," he said. "It's pretty hard to figure out what Jesus would do on some political questions . . . and I think he's going to make some people a little uncomfortable that he seems so certain."