Fervent Bush supporter and Irish republican supporter Peter King is fighting for his political life after the latest opinion polls showed a collapse in support in his New York constituency of Long Island.
Support for the Congressman has dropped from 72 per cent when he last ran in 2002 to just 47 per cent, two points ahead of his Democrat opponent, Dave Mejias, a New York state legislator.
Mr King's supporters concede that his close support for President Bush's Iraq policy is having a severe effect in the largely white, blue-collar constituency.
Mr Bush's approval ratings have slumped to 31 per cent in the district, reflecting a general drop in support throughout the US.
A poll conducted in Mr King's district between October 8th and 10th showed that Democrats and Independents are more motivated to vote than Republicans, which could make Mr King's re-election even more difficult.
However, he has refused to qualify his support of the Iraq war, defending his belief that the US has to "kick ass" to bring democracy to the Middle East and strongly criticising other Republicans for backing away from the "war on terror".
Mr King is spending much of his $1.6 million campaign funds to hold on to his seat, which he has held for seven terms since 1992. As well as writing extensively on Irish politics, Mr King has been closely associated with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams from long before the IRA called a ceasefire.
However, he has come under intense criticism from former allies in the Irish community in New York for sponsoring a strident immigration bill that would make illegal immigration an aggravated felony and would punish anyone who knowingly assisted an illegal immigrant.