I think nothing chases voters away from a candidate faster than when that candidate starts to mix his/her views with religion. Many Americans want their politics and religion to be publicly separate, however, they do want religious values to be the guide for decisions. Politicians make a lot of us uneasy when they start talking like a pastor. This is the major reason, I believe, that the Constitution party has floundered.
The clergy were a major force in the founding of our nation both as orators of freedom and as military men but very few if any sought elected office as clergymen.
There is no legal prohibition against clergymen taking elected office but attempts to legislate as clergy starts to cross the line into establishment of a state religion.
My congressman is a former Baptist Minister. He legislates based on America’s Judeo Christian foundations but those are what our constitution is based on.