NORTH WILDWOOD — A former "Apprentice" contestant who was caught on video asking a woman to have sex with him compared himself to Jesus after Cape May Republicans dropped their support of his Assembly candidacy.

Brian McDowell says he was joking around and didn't intend to be degrading when he was filmed telling a woman "you should f--- me." He says he has known the woman for 10 years and thinks a Democratic spy may have shot the video.

He says he's staying in the race because he wants to reduce property taxes.

In an interview with Politico New Jersey, McDowell says he's "not running to be the Pope."

“There are human errors and even Jesus dropped the cross three times,” he was quoted as saying.

In the short video clip that recently appeared online, he tells the woman "you should f--- me. It would really be good."

McDowell appeared on "The Apprentice" in 2005 before getting fired by now-President Donald Trump. He coordinated Trump's campaign in part of southern Jersey.

He will remain on the ballot in the GOP primary. But Republicans dropped him from the preferred slot for party-backed candidates in his home county of Cape May.

The 1st Legislative District is considered one of the very few districts in the state where Republican challengers could have a shot at unseating Democratic lawmakers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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