David Duke is a vile human being. That's the nicest way I can put it.

The Holocaust denier and former Grand Wizard of the KKK is a felon and a white supremacist.

And now, the former Louisiana state representative is running for the U.S. Senate — and exploiting the tragic Dallas shootings in a disgusting attempt to boost his campaign.

He told The Daily Beast that the killing of the five police officers pushed him to run: "I don't take any satisfaction in the fact that I was right, but I have been right. Unless European Americans stand up, they are going to lose everything they care about in this country."

No, Duke has not been right. He's completely wrong about Dallas, just like he's been wrong about everything else. Through and through, Duke is an embarrassment, but his recent comments about Dallas are especially a slap in the face.

Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke speaks to supporters in Kenner, La., in this 2004 photo. Duke said he plans to run for U.S. Senate in Louisiana. (Burt Steel / AP)

Fortunately, however, Duke's run is almost certain to fail, just like his campaigns for governor, senator, and president.

With that said, perhaps what's scariest about Duke's announcement is that the registered Republican apparently thinks his white supremacist views are welcome in the GOP.

Duke praised Trump's nomination speech, tweeting that he "couldn't have said it better!"

Great Trump Speech, America First! Stop Wars! Defeat the Corrupt elites! Protect our Borders!, Fair Trade! Couldn't have said it better! — David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) July 22, 2016

Earlier this year, Duke announced his support for Trump, saying that "voting against Donald Trump at this point is really treason to your heritage." Trump made headlines when he hesitated to disavow Duke and the KKK at the time, prompting even Ted Cruz to suggest "you're better than this."

Really sad. @realDonaldTrump you're better than this. We should all agree, racism is wrong, KKK is abhorrent. https://t.co/dn2D74c5dl — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 28, 2016

Duke clearly doesn't think so. He's said before: "I've said everything that Donald Trump is saying and more. I think Trump is riding a wave of anti-establishment feeling that I've been nurturing for 25 years."

In his announcement video, Duke reiterated: "I'm overjoyed to see Donald Trump and most Americans embrace most of the issues that I've championed for years. My slogan remains America first."

The Republican Party of Louisiana is clear about its opposition to Duke: "The Republican Party opposes, in the strongest possible terms, David Duke's candidacy for any public office. David Duke is a convicted felon and a hate-filled fraud who does not embody the values of the Republican Party."

For that, I applaud the GOP, sure. But where's that fervor against the racism and ignorance spouted by other Republicans?

Rep. Steve King, for example, recently wondered what non-whites have contributed to society. Yet, for Trump and other Republicans, it's Obama "who has used the pulpit of the presidency to divide us by race and color," as Trump said in his speech.

It's good that Republicans rightfully dismiss Duke as "a hate-filled fraud." But that's not enough.

Even prominent Republicans — including former Reagan adviser Bruce Bartlett — are starting to recognize that, with Trump at the helm, the GOP has become "the party of hate."