Metro

O gets a Reid flag on mosque

WASHINGTON — The Senate’s top Democrat yesterday broke with President Obama and came out against the mosque near Ground Zero, as the divisive issue roiled congressional campaigns across the country.

“The First Amendment protects freedom of religion,” said the spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “Senator Reid respects that, but thinks that the mosque should be built someplace else.”

Reid’s statement came just hours after his Republican challenger, Sharron Angle, called on him to take a stand, charging that Obama had “ignored the wishes of the American people.”

Beyond Nevada, the mosque controversy became a political factor in more than a dozen other critical races across the country yesterday as Republicans put Democrats on the spot.

The debate’s escalation came as the Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Muslim leaders in New York would announce plans to look for another location within the next few days.

Citing anonymous sources, the report said the mosque project’s backers believe it would show good faith, and also help their fund raising, if they choose another site.

But Sharif El-Gamal, who owns the building that would house the planned Park 51, called the report false.

“Everything is on track, and we are moving forward with the location,” he told Reuters.

The mosque issue rocketed to national attention after Obama issued an impassioned defense of a group’s right to build Park 51, a $100 million house of worship and cultural center, two blocks from Ground Zero.

On Friday night, at an Islamic dinner at the White House, Obama said Muslim Americans have “the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan in accordance with local laws and ordinances.”

But on Sunday, Obama appeared to backtrack, saying: “I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right that people have that dates back to our founding.”

Republicans, meanwhile, hammered on the issue.

Noting that he had yet to pick a side in the mosque debate, the National Republican Senatorial Committee ridiculed Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), saying it was remarkable that “the most camera-friendly senator” wouldn’t take a position.

Schumer spokesman Brian Fallon said, “As he’s said for several weeks now, he is not opposed.”

Bob Gibbs, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Zach Space in Ohio, said, “We cannot allow the memories of those who lost their lives on 9/11 to be disgraced by the building of a mosque at Ground Zero.”

Republican former Sen. Dan Coats, facing Rep. Brad Ellsworth in Senate race in Indiana, said: “It’s an insult, I think, to the people who lost lives there.”

And Rick Scott, a Republican in the Florida gubernatorial race, became the first candidate to use Obama’s comments in a TV ad.

“Barack Obama says building a mosque at Ground Zero is about tolerance. He’s wrong. It’s about truth,” Scott, who is running against state Attorney General Bill McCollum, says in the ad.

“Mr. President, Ground Zero is the wrong place for a mosque.”

Mayor Bloomberg defended Obama’s comments, saying: “If we shut down a mosque and community center because it is two blocks away from the site where freedom was attacked, I think it would be a sad day for America.”

Across the river, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said the families of 9/11 victims should be taken into account, but added that America can’t condemn all of Islam for terrorists’ actions.

Rep. Michael McMahon (D-SI) said he opposed the construction of the mosque at its “currently proposed location” and urged community leaders to find a “more appropriate site.”

“We need a compromise that respects all parties,” he said.

Upstate, another Democrat also broke with the president.

“For the sake of the victims and their families, I think another location should be chosen,” said Rep. Michael Arcuri (Utica).

geoff.earle@nypost.com