Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham took on Jaime Harrison in the final senatorial ahead of Tuesday’s election, but his challenger was not the only Democrat on his mind during the event Saturday.
The South Carolina politician mentioned Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), a champion of the Green New Deal, during the debate, criticizing her stance on climate change and attaching Harrison’s platform to her. Graham argued Harrison’s climate change propositions would negatively affect the state’s economy.
“In the name of saving the environment, I’m not going to go down the AOC road, who supports my opponent, this radical agenda coming out of the House,” Graham said in the debate.
READ MORE: Jaime Harrison talks historical campaign and building a ‘New South’
AOC clapped back at Graham, saying: “I’m not sure you believe in *anything* except preserving yourself. & let’s not get started on your climate denial.”
“I’ve seen a lot of spinelessness in DC, but you’re at the top when it comes to folding on your own values like a wet napkin,” she continued. “SC deserves better.”
While Graham has stated he believes climate change is real, he has fiercely defended President Donald Trump, who has brushed off climate change as a serious issue.
Graham’s support of Trump comes despite referring to him as a “race-baiting xenophobic religious bigot” who was “ill-suited for the presidency” during his short-lived presidential bid during the 2016 Republican primaries, The State reports.
READ MORE: AOC calls for expanding court, slams Trump for ‘classist, disgusting’ comments
AOC has been publicly attacked or condemned numerous times by various GOP lawmakers.
Trump himself made ill-mention of her during his second debate with his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden. When talking about the former vice president’s climate plans, he took a shot at AOC and her three progressive fellow Congresswomen of color; Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna S. Pressley (D-MS), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). The group has been referred to as “The Squad.”
“If you look at his plan, his environmental plan, you know who developed it?” Trump said. “AOC plus three. They know nothing about the climate.”
AOC took the swipe as a compliment, saying on Twitter: “If we’ve been identified as public enemy #1 to the worst president in modern history and an entire party of his sycophants, then we must be doing something right.”
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