A U.S. lawmaker Scott Schaben, one of several Republicans running for the seat being vacated by Senator Tom Harkin, has said his opponents would not be able to attack him as racist because his wife is African American.
Schaben, who is married to Iowa State University assistant basketball coach Latoja Schaben, told of his intention to run for the seat in 2014, claiming he will be campaign as a 'common-sense conservative'.
According to the Huffington Post, in an interview with the Times Herald, Schaben said his family would help bring diversity to the Republican Party.
Schaben is vying to run against Republican Bruce Braley, who announced his bid in February and is the only Democrat in the race so far.
He said that he now wants to see if Braley paints him as a racist with a black wife.
