Aaron Schock Slams 'Chicago-Style' Politicians In Iowa: Names Axelrod, Gibbs

While speaking at a Mitt Romney campaign event in Iowa, "hottie" Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock took jabs at key figures in President Obama's campaign, David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs, highlighting their experiences in Chicago politics in what some have interpreted as a thinly-veiled reference to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and other Illinois politicians with criminal records.

"Being in Iowa, you know what it means to be a Chicago politician. You know what kind of races Chicago politicians run," Schock said, according to the Boston Globe “Well, David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs' first race is not President Obama's race. They've been running statewide races in Illinois for decades. And I would submit to you this is going to be one of the most nasty presidential campaigns you've seen."

Schock went on to praise Romney for his steadfastness and gaffe-avoidance, saying he'd need those qualities to weather "the kinds of attacks that the Obama machine is going to throw" at whoever secures the Republican ticket, according to the Washington Post.

Romney's newest ad avoids mentioning other candidates or the fight he would face against Obama if he landed on the ballot. (See campaign video below.) Beating the incumbent president is on the minds of other Midwest representatives, including Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who named Romney, Gingrich and Perry the best bets to win a standoff against Obama. U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) has also endorsed Romney, saying he is what "America needs."

Schock is part one of many big-name Republican surrogates traveling the Iowa circuit with Romney, along with Sen. John Thume (R-S.D.) and former Senators Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and Jim Talent (R-Mo.). Schock, who was voted the hottest freshman Congressman by HuffPost readers in 2009, gained widespread notoriety beyond political followers for appearing shirtless on the cover of Men's Health magazine earlier this year.