A House Democrat on Friday escalated a bitter political fight by suggesting that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is racist for saying President Barack Obama doesn't love America.

Giuliani's controversial remark on Wednesday has prompted criticism from both parties, and on Friday, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) took it to the next level by implying that Giuliani doesn't think any black person can love America as much as a white person.

"Maybe he thinks he loves it 3/5 as much as Giuliani & his pals," Cohen tweeted.

Rudy Giuliani questioned how much,or even if, President Obama loves America.Maybe he thinks he loves it 3/5 as much as Giuliani & his pals

Rudy Giuliani questioned how much,or even if, President Obama loves America.Maybe he thinks he loves it 3/5 as much as Giuliani & his pals

— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) February 20, 2015

That appears to be a reference to the Three-Fifths Compromise, an agreement between northern and southern states to count slaves as three-fifths of a person when counting the total population of a state.

Cohen's congressional district has a significant black population, and Cohen is known for defending civil rights and talking about race-related issues on the House floor.

Giuliani was asked Thursday night on Fox News if he wanted to apologize for his remarks about Obama, but said he instead wanted to repeat them.

"I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America," Giuliani said Wednesdsay.

H/T: Washington Post