New Mexico Attorney General Gary King (D) is being criticized by Republicans for remarking at a Democratic fundraiser that Gov. Susana Martinez (R), his opponent, "does not have a Latino heart."

Video of a Saturday fundraiser obtained by the Weekly Standard shows King making the remark as he mentioned the words of a Hispanic labor activist.

"She said you can't go out there and just vote for somebody for governor because they have a Latino surname," said King. "She said you have to look at them and find out if they have a Latino heart. And we know that Susana Martinez does not have a Latino heart."

The video cuts off right after that. King's campaign did not immediately respond to a question about whether he stands by what he said.

The Republican Governors Association demanded Tuesday that King say he is sorry. Martinez became the first the Hispanic woman elected governor in the nation's history in 2010. She is expected to easily win reelection this fall against King.

"Gary King should consider the impact of his insensitive comments on the Hispanic community and immediately apologize. No matter how much his campaign is struggling, is it reprehensible that he would stoop so low to this kind of personal attack," said Republican Governors Association spokeswoman Gail Gitcho in a statement Tuesday.

As KRQE points out, it's not clear if King was quoting the labor activist, Dolores Huerta, during the final part of his remarks about Martinez. Even if he was, it was probably not a good idea, since it has attracted negative attention.

Politicians know by now: it's never been less safe to make a controversial remark in a private setting. As evidenced by King, the increased risk that something said behind closed doors can become public has clearly not put an end to eyebrow-raising comments during fundraisers.