WASHINGTON -- If Hillary Rodham Clinton is the Democrats' presidential nominee in 2008, it will motivate conservative evangelical Christians to oppose her more than if the devil himself were running, the Rev. Jerry Falwell has told pastors at a "values" conference.

Survey: What Are God's Politics?

Attendees were also assured during the prayer breakfast at which Falwell spoke that God would preserve a Republican majority in Congress.

The Los Angeles Times reported Falwell as saying, "I think we're going to keep the House and the Senate," and "I think the Lord will take care of that."

The newspaper reported that it acquired an unofficial recording of the gathering attended by several hundred pastors and religious activists. The recording, first reported in Sunday's editions, was confirmed by someone who attended the conference, but not the breakfast, and has heard the tape.

"I certainly hope that Hillary is the candidate," Falwell said in the recording.

"I hope she's the candidate, because nothing will energize my (constituency) like Hillary Clinton," Falwell said. "If Lucifer ran, he wouldn't."

An aide to Falwell said the remarks were off-the-cuff and not intended to demonize the Democratic senator from New York.

There was no immediate reaction Sunday from Clinton's office.

Falwell once described Islam's prophet Muhammad as a terrorist and said that abortion providers, feminists, gays and lesbians were to blame for the 9/11 attacks.

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, an ordained United Church of Christ Minister and leader of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, attended the conference.

In a news release on his organization's Web site he reported his group being refered to as 'the enemy" by at least one speaker.

The gathering was sponsored by Dr. James Dobson's group Focus on the Family, and Family Research Council Action, two conservative Christian organizations. Dobson and Tony Perkins, of the Family research council, were speakers at the event. Sens. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., George Allen, R-Va., and conservative pundits Ann Coulter, Jerry Baur and William Bennett spoke at the event. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Govs. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., and Mitt Romney, R-Mass., addressed the gathering via recorded presentations. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich gave the keynote speech.