Chris Christie Endorses Immigration Hardliner Steve King

Sep. 10, 2012— -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is set to campaign for Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) at a luncheon in Sioux City.

King, one of the most strident GOP voices on immigration, is facing a tough reelection against Democrat Christie Vilsack. He was recently endorsed by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. [[MORE]]

“We first met when he was set up for a political excoriation before the House Judiciary Committee by then-Chairman John Conyers (D-Michigan). I thought, ‘Here is a principled, direct and very smart man who is unjustly the target of partisan attack’,” King said in a statement. “I used every minute to bring out the real truth, and Chris Christie never forgot that day."

"When he offered to return to Iowa to help my campaign, it was a clear demonstration of the kind of character Gov. Christie has and an example that shows why he has been so successful in New Jersey.”

The five-term Iowa congressman has made some choice comments about immigrants in the past:

King angered many immigration activists earlier this year when he seemingly compared immigrants and dogs. 

“You get the pick of the litter and you got yourself a pretty good bird dog,” he said at a town hall meeting.