Revelation in video of Tea Party star sure to upset those on religious right who helped propel her to prominence

The Tea Party's latest star, Christine O'Donnell, cancelled appearances on the Sunday news talkshows after a video in which she admitted to "dabbling in witchcraft" emerged over the weekend.

The revelation is certain to upset some on the religious right who make up a good part of the Tea Party's support and who helped to propel O'Donnell to prominence last week with her shock defeat of the Republican leadership's favoured candidate to contest the Senate seat in Delaware.

In the video, O'Donnell says: "I dabbled into witchcraft. I never joined a coven … I hung around people who were doing these things. I'm not making this stuff up.

"One of my first dates with a witch was on a satanic altar, and I didn't know it. I mean, there's a little blood there and stuff like that … We went to a movie and then had a little midnight picnic on a satanic altar."

O'Donnell declined to appear on Fox News, which is regarded as more than sympathetic to the Tea Party, after the video of her appearing on the Politically Incorrect show in 1999 was released by its host, Bill Maher, who now has a semi-satirical chat show on HBO.

He said he has more such embarrassing material and that he is going to show a fresh revelation every week until O'Donnell agrees to appear on his show.

"I'm just saying, Christine, it's like a hostage crisis – every week you don't show up, I'm going to throw another body out," he said.

O'Donnell had already drawn widespread scorn for earlier comments in which she condemns masturbation.