Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, responded to a sharp attack from Lou Dobbs, telling reporters, “I don’t really worry much about Mr. Dobbs” after the Fox Business host urged voters to reject Graham, who is battling for his Senate career in a tight race against Democratic candidate Jaime Harrison.
Asked whether he wanted President Trump to stand up for him against attacks from the right, Graham said Dobbs “has a right to his own opinion” but “people at home get the big picture.”
“I think people in South Carolina understand why it’s important for me to get re-elected,” Graham said, according to The Hill.
Dobbs on Friday blasted the incumbent GOP senator and questioned why conservatives are backing Graham’s re-election. He criticized Graham for not using his position as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee to investigate allegations made by Trump that the Obama administration improperly investigated his 2016 presidential campaign.
“I don’t know why anyone in the great state of South Carolina would ever vote for Lindsey Graham. It’s just outrageous,” Dobbs said.
Dobbs’ attack comes at a time when Graham is trying to rev up conservative support to win a fourth Senate term.
The non-partisan Cook Political Report, a respected handicapper, moved the South Carolina Senate race into the “toss-up” category earlier this month. It was previously rated a “lean Republican” race.
Graham has been dramatically outraised by Harrison, who reported collecting a jaw-dropping $57 million in the third fundraising quarter of 2020.