Boehner appears with Ohio Nazi re-enactor

TOLEDO, Ohio, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner briefly appeared this weekend with an Ohio candidate who has portrayed Nazi SS soldiers in re-enactments.

Boehner, the Ohio congressman in line to become speaker if the Republicans take the House, thanked volunteers at Lucas County Republican headquarters in Toledo Saturday and gave an offhand, closed-door endorsement to Rich Iott, the party's candidate in Ohio's 9th Congressional District, The (Toledo) Blade reported.

The county headquarters won a nationwide Republican contest for the most calls to potential voters made in a single day, Sept. 25.

Boehner avoided reporters and protesters by entering and leaving from a rear loading platform. He stayed in the building about 10 minutes.

He called for a final push to elect the whole Ohio Republican ticket. Prompted, he then added, "and Rich," as Iott stood near him.

Iott for years took part in a group that portrays the Waffen SS Wiking division in World War II re-enactments, although it says it opposes Nazism.

Asked if he would support Boehner as speaker if he is elected, Iott said, "I don't know. We'll have to wait and see."