Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Thursday blasted GOP House candidate Greg Gianforte, who was charged with assault for attacking a journalist just hours before the polls open in a closely watched special election in Montana.

“I don't have any sympathy for what he did. It's stupid and boneheaded. Put your big boy pants on. You want to play with the Washington press corps and this is your reaction? It's beyond crazy,” Steele said on MSNBC.

“I'm a Republican from Maryland and Washington, D.C.,” Steele continued. “You live in that crucible with a hot press all the time. That's how you forge your own strength to go out and do your job to represent your people. If you can't even answer a question on the [Congressional Budget Office], what are you going to do when it's really important questions? ... You keep a cool head, you're up in the polls going into election day, you take the questioning and you move on.”

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National Republicans and conservative outside groups have poured millions of dollars into the special election to replace former GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke, who is now heading President Trump’s Interior Department.

Gianforte was seen as the favorite heading into Election Day, although the race against Democrat Rob Quist was believed to be close.

Late Wednesday night, Gallatin County police charged Gianforte with misdemeanor assault after Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs alleged he had been “body slammed” by the candidate after approaching him with a question about the GOP healthcare bill.

Gianforte’s campaign denied the reporter’s description of the altercation, claiming that Jacobs barged into an office without permission and “aggressively shoved a recorder in Greg's face.”

The ensuing altercation led “them both to the ground,” the campaign claimed.

But a Fox News crew that witnessed the altercation told a different story.

“Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him,” said Fox reporter Alicia Acuna.

The Fox reporters “watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the man, as he moved on top the reporter and began yelling something to the effect of 'I'm sick and tired of this!'" Acuna said.

Gianforte will appear in court by June 7. He faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $500 fine.

Democrats are calling on him to drop out of the race. The Billings Gazette reports that 37 percent of registered voters had already turned in their absentee ballots as of Wednesday.