Mississippi backs Dem in special election

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Democrat Travis Childers won a special election to Congress on Tuesday, helping his party to a third victory in recent months for seats long in Republican hands.

The victory puts Childers into the seat vacated by Roger Wicker, a Republican appointed to the U.S. Senate when Trent Lott resigned. The win also pushes the Democrats to a 236-199 majority in the House, if only for a few months until November's general elections.

In Nebraska, voters picked the Republican and Democratic candidates to run to replace retiring Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel. Republican Mike Johanns, former U.S. agriculture secretary and Nebraska governor, will face off Democrat Scott Kleeb in November.

Evangelist regrets

Catholic remarks

WASHINGTON — John Hagee, a Texas televangelist who endorsed John McCain, apologized to Catholics on Tuesday for his criticism of the Roman Catholic Church and for having "emphasized the darkest chapters in the history of Catholic and Protestant relations with the Jews."

Hagee's support for McCain has drawn cries of outrage from some Catholic leaders who have called on McCain to reject Hagee's endorsement. The likely Republican nominee has said he does not agree with some of Hagee's past comments, but did not reject his support.

In a letter to William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, Hagee wrote: "Out of a desire to advance a greater unity among Catholics and evangelicals in promoting the common good, I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful."

Donohue, one of Hagee's sharpest critics, said he accepted the apology and planned to meet with Hagee Thursday in New York.

Among other things, Hagee has suggested that Catholic anti-Semitism shaped Adolf Hitler's views of Jews.

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Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain will make a cameo appearance this week on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live." Aides were mum about the details of his sketch.

Seattle Times news services