WASHINGTON _ President Barack Obama announced his endorsement of former Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge in her race against Sen. Chuck Grassley, who has led the GOP effort to block the president's Supreme Court nomination .
Obama praised the Democratic candidate in a statement released Wednesday.
"Patty has never backed down from a challenge," he said. "I have no doubt that she will carry this spirit with her to the United States Senate."
Obama has not been afraid to jump into Senate races this year to support Democrats, endorsing Katie McGinty in Pennsylvania, Rep. Tammy Duckworth in Illinois and Rep. Patrick Murphy in Florida.
Obama and Grassley have clashed since March when Grassley said he would not hold hearings for federal appeals Judge Merrick Garland, Obama's selection to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.
Judge alluded to the stalemate in her remarks.
"Chuck Grassley has become part of the problem," she said. "Instead of doing his job, he's playing cynical political games that have stalled progress for working families in Iowa."
A poll last month showed Grassley has a small lead against Judge. The Roll Call/Rothenberg & Gonzales race rating has labeled the race as a safe Republican one.
