Far-right Iowa Rep. Steve King was rebuked by a top official in his own party and lost major financial backers as polls show him sliding in the heavily conservative district amid his embrace of neo-Nazis in Canada and Europe.
King, who has compared immigrants to dogs and tweeted cartoons showing former President Barack Obama wearing a turban, endorsed Toronto Mayoral candidate Faith Goldy, who literally recited the 14-word manifesto invoked by neo-Nazis during her campaign.
Last week, King was reported to have met with members of an Austrian political party linked to neo-Nazi movements while he toured Holocaust sites on a trip funded by a Holocaust memorial nonprofit.
A new poll shows King in a virtual tie with Democrat J.D. Scholten in Iowa's 4th Congressional district despite winning eight straight elections in a district President Donald Trump carried by 27 percent.
He also lost the backing of major campaign donors like Land O' Lakes and Purina, which won't help given that his Democratic opponent raised three times more money last quarter.
NRCC Chairman condemns:
Ohio Rep. Steve Stivers, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, condemned King's rhetoric in a highly unusual rebuke of a candidate.
“Congressman Steve King’s recent comments, actions, and retweets are completely inappropriate,” Stivers tweeted. “We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior.”
Iowa paper refuses to endorse for the first time:
The Sioux City Journal, which had endorsed King in all of his previous races, announced that they are backing his Democratic opponent this year.
“Each time King immerses himself in controversy, he holds up this district to ridicule and marginalizes himself within the legislative body he serves,” the Journal editorial board wrote, “neither of which provides benefit to Iowans who live and work here.”
King blames Fake News:
“These attacks are orchestrated by nasty, desperate, and dishonest fake news,” King said in a statement. “Their ultimate goal is to flip the House and impeach Donald Turmp. Establishment Never Trumpers are complicit.”
