Chris McDaniel balks at ‘racist comments’

Sen. Thad Cochran’s (R-Miss.) primary challenger state Sen. Chris McDaniel condemned racially charged questions asked during a press call with Cochran’s aides.

During an interview with CNN on Friday, McDaniel scolded the remarks but said his campaign doesn’t know who made them.

{mosads}“Certainly, we condemn any racist comments whatsoever, but bear in mind, we have no idea who that person is,” McDaniel said. “Neither do you. So, you understand there are people out there we have no control over. We have no idea who that person is.”

In a conference call for reporters arranged by Cochran aides, an unidentified caller on Wednesday repeatedly asked questions about why the senator’s campaign was “harvesting black votes.”

“I’d like to know if the black people were harvesting cotton, why do you think it’s OK to harvest their votes? They’re not animals, why’re you treating black people like they’re just votes?, the caller questioned.

Some supporters of the Tea Party-backed candidate have accused Cochran of paying African-Americans to vote for the incumbent senator in the runoff.

Cochran defeated McDaniel in a heated June 24 runoff for the Mississippi GOP nod, but McDaniel has refused to concede and is offering a $1,000 reward in exchange for evidence of voter fraud.

In Friday’s interview, McDaniel called on Cochran’s campaign to join him “hand in hand” in the investigation.

“Here’s what I would suggest to the Cochran campaign,” McDaniel continued. “Instead of accusations like that — instead of ridicule, instead of name-calling — why not join us in this process? Why not go out there, hand in hand, and let’s find the corruption if it exists, let’s root it out, once and for all. I think that’s their obligation, wouldn’t you?”