Ammar Campa-Najjar

The congressional candidate later told Newsweek he decided to vote for Joe Biden.

Republican Duncan Hunter has attacked his Democratic opponent over his grandfather's alleged ties to terrorism. Now, with those allegations called into question, Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar has changed his position.

"Attacking anyone for the color of their skin or their religion wasn't OK 75 years ago, and it's not OK now," the 97-year-old World War II veteran said.

The California Republican's attacks on his opponent, Ammar Campa-Najjar, are nothing new, and Democrats are calling them "bigoted" remarks.

"I felt compassionate for [Hunter] in the beginning, but now the gloves are off," Campa-Najjar told Newsweek, speaking metaphorically. "If he wants to brawl, we're going to brawl.

"Rule number one of an incumbent," Campa-Najjar said of Duncan Hunter. "You never say the name of your opponent. Unless you feel threatened by them."

The congressman and his wife have been accused of misusing at least $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses.