Retiring Democratic Sen. Senator Tom Harkin says he "regrets" comments he made last week comparing Republican Iowa Senate candidate Joni Ernst's looks to those of Taylor Swift.
"I shouldn't have said those things, I know that," Harkin said in a statement. "I regret anytime someone feels offended by what I have said. But I am only human and I can make mistakes sometimes in how I say something. In fact, I have complimented her on running a very good campaign.
BuzzFeed News reported Sunday evening the retiring Democrat said at an event honoring him that last week Iowa voters shouldn't be fooled because Joni Ernst is "really attractive" and "sounds nice."
"In this Senate race, I've been watching some of these ads," Harkin said. "And there's sort of this sense that, 'Well, I hear so much about Joni Ernst. She is 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."
Ernst told Fox News Monday she was "very offended" by Harkin's comments about her.
"I was very offended that Sen. Harkin would say that. I think it's unfortunate that he and many of their party believe you can't be a real woman if you're conservative and you're female," Ernst said. "Again, I am greatly offended by that."
"I believe if my name had been John Ernst attached to my resume, Sen. Harkin would not have said those things," Ernst added.