Speaking on Morning Joe just now, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., essentially condoned the new ad that Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, D, is running in Kentucky’s Senate race. The ad, which suggests that Rand Paul is anti-Christian, prompted Paul to say in last night’s debate that he would not be shaking Conway’s hand afterward.

McCaskill said the ad comes “close to the line,” but added that the experience has shown Paul is too “thin-skinned” for the Senate. She then blamed the controversy on Paul, saying that this ad only emerged because he was an “extreme candidate.” She even referred to a “Satanic altar” when describing the bizarre “Aqua Buddha” prank that Paul participated in while in college.

Chuck Todd wasn’t buying it. He said that if that were the issue, Conway would be advertising on Paul’s extremism, not his religion. He added that he wouldn’t be surprised if the ad backfires. Todd also said that the Un-Christian ad suggests that Conway must be lot farther behind in the race than most people think, and added that Conway looked uncomfortable defending it.

I will provide a clip later when it becomes available.