American Savior (2008)

Here's the premise of Roland Merullo's political satire, American Savior: Jesus runs for president. Not the pale-skinned Jesus of Western art, but a suave, swarthy, part-Navajo mystery man preaching ''kindness and goodness.'' Narrator Russ Thomas — a ''locally famous beat reporter with nice hair and aspirations for an anchor spot in a top-ten market'' — has his doubts (and sometimes worries Jesus is after his girlfriend) but nonetheless dumps his TV job to work for the campaign. Unfortunately, Merullo's arch tone clashes with his earnest message, and the novel drags on a little too long. Sort of like this campaign season. B-