Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst from Iowa is taking offense at comments by outgoing Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) who spoke at a Democratic barbecue last week and asked Iowans not to vote for Ernst just because she's "really attractive" and "sounds nice."

Ernst, an Iowa National Guard lieutenant colonel and a veteran of the Iraq war, is running to replace Harkin, and on Saturday was leading by seven points against Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley in the race. She told Fox News that Harkin's remarks would be different if she were a man.

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"I was very offended that Senator Harkin would say that. I think it's unfortunate that he and many of their party believe that you can't be a real woman if you're conservative and you're female," Ernst said. "Again, I am greatly offended about that."

Harkin, honoured as a retiring senator at the Story County Democrats' annual fall barbecue, said he had been watching ads about the senate race.

"And there's sort of this sense that, 'Well, I hear so much about Joni Ernst. She's really attractive, and she sounds nice.' Well I got to thinking about that. I don't care if she's as good looking as Taylor Swift or as nice as Mr. Rogers, but if she votes like Michele Bachmann, she's wrong for the state of Iowa," Harkin said.

Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann represents Minnesota's 6^th District in the U.S. House of Representative, and recently attracted public attention when she was quoted as calling on President Barack Obama to declare war on Islam. It later turned out she was seriously misquoted.

Ernst said in reaction, "If my name had been John Ernst attached to my resume, Senator Harkin would not have said those things."

A Des Moines Register poll on Saturday showed Ernst leading by seven points over Rep. Braley in the race to replace Harkin. The fight is considered critical to a Republican takeover of the Senate.

If elected, Ernst would be the state's first female senator.

TagsUS Senate, US senate elections, midterm elections, U.S. midterm elections