WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans are using heavily edited audio clips in new television ads to paint north Alabama congressional candidate Parker Griffith as soft on terrorism.

Griffith, a Huntsville Democrat, said the ads are deceptive, and at least one Huntsville station already had pulled them off the air.

The ads cite Griffith’s remarks at a religious forum last month that Americans shouldn’t be afraid of radical Islam. Griffith said the forum was focused on faith and that his full answer proves he was speaking about whether radical Islam represents a threat to Christianity, not national security.

The ads are sponsored by National Republican Congressional Committee and a conservative group called Freedom’s Watch.

Griffith is in a tight race with Republican Wayne Parker for the 5th District seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Bud Cramer.

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