FORT COLLINS, Colo.—Colorado Republican Cory Gardner’s congressional campaign on Tuesday canceled a fundraiser featuring U.S. Rep. Steve King after the Iowa congressman suggested during a radio interview that President Barack Obama favors blacks over whites.
King’s appearance at a tea party group holding a “Remember in November” rally nearby was also canceled a few hours after the fundraiser in Hudson. Gardner and Republican Senate candidate Ken Buck are scheduled to speak at the event in Loveland.
King told The (Fort Collins) Coloradoan that he still planned to visit Colorado on Saturday even though his invitations were rescinded. He didn’t specify his plans in Colorado
He also said that during conversations Tuesday, Gardner and Colorado tea party members didn’t disagree with the remarks that got him into trouble.
Gardner’s campaign denied King’s description of the conversation. A Colorado tea party member didn’t immediately return a call for comment about talking to King, but has expressed disappointment by the congressman’s on-air remarks.
King made his remarks Monday on G. Gordon Liddy’s nationally syndicated radio talk show. The Republican criticized U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s remarks earlier this year on race relations and added that Obama seems to have “a default mechanism” that favors blacks.
Gardner campaign manager Chris Hansen said the $100 per-plate fundraiser featuring King Saturday has been canceled, but wouldn’t say why. Hansen also didn’t say how many people were attending, but said attendees would be contacted and invited to one of eight other fundraisers this month.
“I was pretty disappointed when I heard his comments,” Lesley Hollywood, director of the Northern Colorado Tea Party, said.
Hollywood and Owen Loftus, Buck’s spokesman, both said the comments don’t reflect the tea party’s values.
King’s office didn’t immediately return a call to The Associated Press in Denver.
Hollywood said state Sen. Shawn Mitchell, a Republican from Broomfield, will replace King at the rally.
