"I think he would," Spencer told The Tribune, although he later backed away and said he couldn't say for sure how Jesus would vote.
He said the book he has written looks at Jesus' deeds and teachings to try to discern the policies he might support. It is due out in October. Spencer said he thinks the Bush tax cuts hurt families and Jesus would oppose making them permanent, and that he would support a "very compassionate" immigration program.
The bottom line, Spencer said, is Jesus would want people to think carefully about the issues, regardless of political party, before they vote.
"This is a very precious blessing we have in this country, which is to vote, and if we truly believe this is the promised land and if we truly believe the Founding Fathers were inspired by God when they wrote that Constitution, then we need to put a lot of thought into what we do before we go to the polls," Spencer said.
He has also written a book focusing on the Bible's creation story and a Christian's duty to the planet.
It is not the first time the supernatural has been injected into the 3rd District race: In 2006, Republican challenger John Jacob said that Satan was working against him in his bid to knock off incumbent Rep. Chris Cannon. The controversial remark did not help an already stumbling campaign and Cannon went on to a convincing victory.
Spencer's opponent, Jason Chaffetz, who beat Cannon in this year's Republican primary, said Spencer goes too far.
"I believe there is a proper role of religion in our society and we ought to promote that and not run away from it," he said. "But I don't think it's appropriate to guess which candidate Jesus Christ would support. That's sacrilegious to me.
Spencer said he thinks it is Chaffetz's stance on immigration - he has said he supports tent-style detention camps and deportation for immigrants - that is offensive.
"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," he said.
And he supports an immigration policy that creates a path to citizenship for those here illegally, provided they pay a fine. "As a man of faith, I believe God looks at all of his children equally," he said.
Spencer said energy is the top issue in this election, and he supports drilling for more oil. Spencer was converted to supporting oil shale development after discussions with Cannon, and thinks the United States needs an aggressive policy on renewable energy. It will take all of those pieces together, he said, but the country has the resources.
"We have everything we need to survive this energy crisis from God," he said.
Quin Monson, assistant director of Brigham Young University's Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, said references to religion in politics are usually more indirect.
"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."
Spencer, however, is not shy about discussing how his faith has shaped his politics, and said he will debate Chaffetz "anywhere, anytime" on God and government.
