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St. Louis, MO — Sen. John McCain rebuked comments Monday by an Iowa Congressman who said al Qaeda would be “dancing in the streets” if Sen. Barack Obama is elected president.

“I don’t understand that kind of rhetoric, I don’t know what motivates someone to use it, so it’s hard for me to even contemplate why someone would (say that),” McCain said aboard his campaign plane this afternoon when asked about the comments by Rep. Steve King (R-IA). “I think it’s important that people know where I stand as a candidate. And how I stand on how we should treat our opponents. And my clear message has been over and over I’ll treat my opponents with respect.”

King, who has no connection to the campaign, told an Iowa newspaper over the weekend that terrorists would be energized by Obama’s policies in Iraq as well his given middle name–Hussein. The Obama campaign immediately called on McCain to condemn the remarks.

The King comments are the latest in a series of incendiary anti-Obama statements made by Republicans. McCain also condemned statements by the Tennessee Republican Party and radio talk show host Bill Cunningham.

The presumptive GOP nominee reiterated today that he intends to conduct a “respectful debate,” but lamented that he won’t be able to control everyone in his party.

“One of the fundamentals that I’ve learned in this campaign is that…when at a town hall meeting I say I’m going to have a respectful debate, people applaud, people say ‘that’s what we want’…I would think that other elected officials would also get that message,” McCain said. “I can’t control obviously other people…what they say or do, I can only make it very clear as to what I’m going to do. I think that position is being reinforced when people just come up to me and say ‘gee I hear you’re going to run a respectful debate. We’d love to see that for a change.’”

Another day, another inflammatory anti-Obama remark for Camp McCain to condemn.

The latest comes from Iowa Rep. Steve King who told a Spencer, IA paper that terrorists would be “dancing in the streets” if Obama is elected president, adding that Islamic extremists will be energized by the Democrat’s Iraq policy as well his middle name, Hussein. While King has no affiliation with the McCain campaign, Obama officials still called on the presumptive GOP nominee to condemn the remark yesterday.

McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan told Fox Saturday:

“The Senator has been clear that he intends to keep this campaign about the issues. He has condemned similar comments by (radio talk show host) Bill Cunningham. He doesn’t agree with King’s comments,” Buchanan said. “He intends to run a respectful race and keep it about the issues.”

In recent weeks, McCain also condemned Cunningham, who had delivered an anti-Obama rant at a campaign event, and the Tennessee Republican Party for an anti-Obama press release that also used his middle name.

One has a feeling that these headaches won’t be going away any time soon if Obama becomes the Democratic nominee…

Congressman Steve King represents the 5th district of Iowa, the western third of the state. He is still in the middle of deciding who he will endorse, but we are now less than 3 weeks away from the Iowa caucuses.

He let me in on his endorsement decision making process giving me an exclusive look at who he is deciding between.

Click below to see the story that aired on Weekend Live today!

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***UPDATE***

Congressman Steve King is going to announce his endorsement TOMORROW at 10AM eastern.

In the release King said, “ “The caucus process in Iowa is long and uniquely personal. Iowans have more access to the presidential candidates than anyone, myself included. We have closed the door and had intense discussions with nearly every candidate. I have a duty and an obligation to make my decision public about my choice for president.” King continued, “This decision is my personal conviction. No candidate, committee, or even my wife knows the conclusion I will announce.

***UPDATE***

Congressman King endorsed Fred Thompson this morning, even as Romney staffers waited to hear (in the room!) who King’s pick could be, thinking it was their guy. In response Thompson released this statement:

“Congressman King’s leadership in support of the sanctity of life and his efforts in the fight against illegal immigration have made him one of Iowa’s great Republican leaders. He’s a tireless fighter for the 5th district of Iowa and I’m honored by his support. I look forward to working with Congressman King over the next three weeks and into 2008 in support of the traditional conservative values he and I share.”

King said he would volunteer for any campaign he endorsed.

*** UPDATE***

Fred Thompson comments on Congressman King’s endorsement and the fact that members of the Romney campaign came to the endorsement thinking that King was going to endorse Governor Romney :

“I want to thank my friend Steve King for his endorsement today. It’s a very, very wonderful day for me because of Greg and Steve King. Steve King simply is a man of principle, somebody I’ve had a chance to talk with early on. I have adopted in my own plan several weeks ago on illegal immigration and what to do about it. Some ideas that Steve has had. He is a conscientious man and he goes with principle. Having someone like Steve step forward means an awful lot to me.

“I understand that today when he made his announcement, there were some other folks from another campaign standing around the wall waiting for their guy to be named. And he wasn’t. And they were kind of shocked that I got the endorsement and they didn’t. But I won’t rub it in. I’ll just say this. This ain’t the last surprise you’re going to get, folks.”