Iowa Rep. King Explains Why He Likes Fred
CARROLL, IOWA -- Saying it would have been "irresponsible" for him not to endorse a presidential candidate, Iowa congressman Steve King joined Fred Thompson on the campaign trail in Iowa today.
"I absolutely considered them all, and evaluated their positions," King said. "In the end, it came down to the conviction that I trust Fred Thompson, and I believe in him."
King has been outspoken on his views against illegal immigration – he says he talks to Tom Tancredo often – and Thompson says he has adopted some of King's views to his own platform on illegal immigration, such as ending the payroll tax deduction for employers who give jobs to illegal immigrants.
"We need to stop luring and inducing people to come across the border and live here illegally," Thompson said. "We still have sanctuary cities in this country that are violating the law."
It seems the endorsement is already paying dividends.
At a radio town hall meeting in Atlantic, Iowa, David Wheatley said he had been supporting another candidate, but because he also supports Congressman King, he came out to hear Thompson.
"I listen to [King's] opinion and what he has to say, and that's why I'm here, to hear what Fred has to say. Right now I've been leaning more towards Romney, but we'll see."
Wheatley also thought the endorsement could reverse Thompson's slide in the Iowa polls. "There's a lot of people sitting on the fencepost right now, and you get somebody like King coming out and supporting him, that could sway a lot of votes," he said. "This close to caucuses, that could happen."