Final answer:
American colonial patriots who sought independence were likely to agree with the notion that Britain and the King were unable to effectively govern the distant colonies, preferring local self-governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Britain and the King are too far away to understand the best way to govern the colonies" would have most likely agreed with by American colonial patriots who were advocating for independence from British rule. The Declaration of Independence drew on a history of salutary neglect where the colonies had developed their own elected legislative bodies and a tradition of self-governance.
As the British government sought to tighten control, such as the response to the Intolerable Acts and the disregard for colonial petitions, these patriots felt that their rights as British citizens were being infringed upon, and their long-held ability to self-govern was under threat, leading to the conclusion that the authority to govern should rest with the people, not a distant monarchy.