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COLUMBIA -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod and Republican Nikki Haley both criticized Congressman Gresham Barrett Wednesday for asking candidates to sign a letter opposing a potential plan to bring terror suspects to South Carolina.

Barrett called on his fellow candidates for governor Tuesday to send President Obama a message stating their opposition to the possibility of housing alleged terrorists transferred from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

McLeod's response was unusually frank for a politician. He claimed Barrett did not object when President Bush sent terrorist suspect Jose Padilla to the Naval Brig in North Charleston in 2001, and he accused the campaign of "playing politics."

"With all due respect, I'd request that you take your letter and shove it," said a portion of McLeod's response.

Barrett campaign spokesman B.J. Boling criticized McLeod for refusing to sign the letter Wednesday.

“The reality is that should President Obama choose to transfer known terrorists to our state, our citizens will become even more of a target for terrorism. That is simply unacceptable," said Boling.

State Representative Nikki Haley (R-Lexington) released a statement Wednesday stating that she opposes bringing terrorist suspects to the state, but that the issue is for federal officials to decide and not candidates for governor.

Haley's statement said she would sign the letter, but criticized Barrett for trying to make a state issue out of a federal matter.  "[It] strikes me as little more than political grandstanding," wrote Haley.

Fellow Republican candidate Attorney General Henry McMaster issued a statement Tuesday indicating he would also sign the letter. Campaign spokesman Rob Godfrey said Wednesday that McMaster also called on members of the state congressional delegation to take immediate and decisive action to ensure no terror suspects are brought to the state.