Norm Coleman (WDCpix)

It worked for Rep. Michele Bachmann. In 2006, the Stillwater Republican told worshipers at her church that “Twenty-two months ago, [God] called me to run for United States Congress.” She was elected — and then re-elected. On Friday, former Sen. Norm Coleman made similar statements about his own calling to be back in the Senate.

Coleman, who is Jewish, told nationally syndicated conservative radio host Mike Gallagher that he knows “God wants me to serve,” according to Smart Politics.

But for local, presumably more centrist audiences, he gave a godless version the same day. “I’ve been blessed to serve,” he told Minnesota Public Radio’s Tom Crann. “I want to continue to serve.”

Perhaps it’s a sign that Coleman’s hoping for some divine intervention in his Senate contest. Early last week, Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight said that the chances of a win based on another look at rejected absentee ballots is unlikely.

Update: Apparently a Huffington Post link to this Smart Politics post overloaded the site’s server; here’s Google’s cache of the page [screengrab].

Related: Video: Burris’ backing from God recalls Bachmann’s, Palin’s