On the September 23 broadcast of his Minneapolis radio show, Chris Baker repeatedly referred to Sen. Barack Obama as “Nicolae Carpathia,” the Antichrist character in the Left Behind series, as well as “Barack Obammy” and “the political Jesus.”

During the broadcast, Baker stated: “I'm getting really sick of being told that if I disagree with Barack Obammy, the Nicolae Carpathia candidate, that I'm a racist.” He later quoted Obama urging supporters to get in the “faces” of friends and neighbors and said: “So, we have the in-your-face hotline here, that number for Barack Obammy supporters, the Nicolae Carpathia of this election ... For all you Barack Obammy supporters, this is how you can get in people's face, like Nicolae Carpathia wants you to do, OK, because I am man of diversity and tolerance, and so therefore we provide that just for you.” Baker added: “Now, here's what I want to talk about, OK? One, people who don't like Barack Obammy, the Nicolae Carpathia political Jesus, I want to know why it is. And if it's race, I want you to be honest enough to tell me so”

After one caller said that it “drives me absolutely nuts when you call him 'Barack Obammy,' ” Baker asked, “How about Nicolae Carpathia?” After the caller replied, “No,” Baker asked, “How about the political Jesus?” Later, Baker stated: “Man, that's just part of the big show. That's all sarcasm and me just being a smart aleck.”

Left Behind is a best-selling series of 16 novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins that tell the story of the Rapture and ensuing events according to a Christian interpretation of the end times. The Left Behind franchise also includes graphic novels, a Left Behind series for teens, and three films based on the books. A computer game, Left Behind: Eternal Forces, was released in 2006.

Time senior editor Amy Sullivan reported on August 8: “The Antichrist of the Left Behind books is a charismatic young political leader named Nicolae Carpathia who founds the One World religion (slogan 'We Are God') and promises to heal the world after a time of deep division.” Sullivan added: “The cataloging of similarities Obama shares with the Antichrist began nearly two years ago. But it picked up steam in February 2008 after he racked up a string of impressive primary victories. A Google search for 'Obama' and 'Antichrist' turns up more than 700,000 hits, including at least one blog dedicated solely to the topic.” Additionally, the conservative website RedState.com sells a bumper sticker that reads “Obama Carpathia '08 You Won't Be Left Behind,” along with other items comparing Obama to the Antichrist.

ChristianNewsWire reported on August 8 that "[p]olitical commentators are comparing McCain's portrayal of competitor Barack Obama with the blockbuster apocalyptic series' depiction of the antichrist. But even the [Left Behind] series authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins don't think Obama is the antichrist."

The Chris Baker Show airs on Minneapolis' 100.3 KTLK-FM, owned by Clear Channel Communications.

From the September 23 broadcast of KTLK's The Chris Baker Show:

BAKER: By the way, more race injected into the campaign. We're going to have to have this race discussion once again, because I'm getting really sick of being told that if I disagree with Barack Obammy, the Nicolae Carpathia candidate, that I'm a racist. But it just keeps popping up everywhere you go. So, we'll get into that.

[...]

BAKER: Just -- just in my own mocking way, we're going to have to get into another race discussion, because now more news today about apparently all you white, honky crackers out there will not be voting for Barack Obama because you hate black people. Once again, here it goes, it rears its ugly head, and we have to discuss this. So, here's what I want to do, OK? This is what we're going to do on the big show. First of all, we're going to open your Barack Obammy in-your-face hotline, you know, because Barack Obammy wants his supporters out there in people's faces. He said -- he wants them -- he wants -- yeah, he wants you in people's faces, OK. He said so. “I want you in their face.”

So, we have the in-your-face hotline here, that number for Barack Obammy supporters, the Nicolae Carpathia of this election, (952) 544-6756. For all you Barack Obammy supporters, this is how you can get in people's face, like Nicolae Carpathia wants you to do, OK, because I am man of diversity and tolerance, and so therefore we provide that just for you. Now, here's what I want to talk about, OK? One, people who don't like Barack Obammy, the Nicolae Carpathia political Jesus, I want to know why it is. And if it's race, I want you to be honest enough to tell me so. OK, this is an open forum, it's the Chris Baker program, we're all -- all opinions are welcome.

[...]

BAKER: We have to deal with this whole race thing, because I'm telling you it drives me absolutely nuts. And I don't understand because I have yet to meet a person -- and I talk to people all the time -- I've yet to meet a person who is concerned about Nicolae Carpathia Barack Obama because of his race. I don't get it.

[...]

BAKER: All right, so we're back in to race again. We're being barraged with if you disagree with Barack Obammy Nicolae Carpathia --you here this story? A town in California has changed their name to “Obama.” This is getting crazy, man.

[...]

BAKER: Now, by the way, for all of you Obammy supporters, we do have the Barack Obammy in-your-face hotline. Remember, your political Jesus said:

OBAMA [audio clip]: I need you. I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors. I want you to talk to them whether they're independent, or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face.

BAKER: Yeah, argue with them and get in their face, that's why we put in the Barack Obammy-Nicolae Carpathia hotline for all you Nicolae Carpathia supporters out there.

[...]

BAKER: Welcome to 100.3 KTLK.

CALLER: Thank you, I listen to your show every morning, and I just have to tell you one thing that drives me absolutely nuts is when you call him “Barack Obammy.”

BAKER: Yeah.

CALLER: It's not his name. I think it's disrespectful. I think, you know, you don't sit there hearing people say, “John McCan.”

BAKER: No, I usually call him “Skeletor.”

CALLER: Well, I just -- it -- I don't know, it drives me nuts, but I just wish you would just call him by his name, instead of --

BAKER: How about Nicolae Carpathia?

CALLER: No, I don't think so.

BAKER: You don't think so?

CALLER: No.

BAKER: Oh. How about the political Jesus?

CALLER: That's better.

BAKER: Hey, look at that -- “Kumbaya.” We're finding middle ground here. Man, that's just part of the big show. That's all sarcasm and me just being a smart aleck.

CALLER: All right.

BAKER: That's just the way it is.