U.S. Senate hopeful Katie Britt has dismissed former President Donald Trump's support for her opponent for the Alabama seat, saying "that doesn't scare me."
Britt, who hopes to fill the Alabama Senate seat being vacated by Richard Shelby, issued a statement after Trump endorsed Rep. Mo Brooks.
Sen. Shelby, who is retiring at the end of his term in 2022, also voiced his support for Britt, who served as his chief of staff, and wanted her to be his successor.
The former president of the Business Council of Alabama shared a video on Twitter where she came out against her opponent for having "someone else" fight for him.
She said on Saturday: "Unfortunately, we saw the statement about my candidacy this afternoon. And what I want to tell you is that doesn't scare me.
"I am here to fight for you. It is clear that our message is resonating. People are ready for something new, they are ready for fresh blood, are fighting for Christian conservative values and putting Alabama first. That's what people want.
Britt continued: "And in the first four weeks we've had incredible momentum and in the first three we raised $2.24 million and 90 percent of that came from Alabamians.
"That's because they believe in this campaign and they want something different and something better for Alabama.
"And so, I hope my opponent, who has been on the ballot for 40 years can learn how to really be a fearless fighter and next time someone else is getting momentum, I wouldn't run to somebody else for cover and have someone else fight for me.
"Fight yourself, because that's certainly what I'll do."
Britt later told Newsweek: "I don't need anyone else to fight my battles, and as Alabama's next U.S. senator, I won't be a rubber stamp for anyone. I am proud that over 90 percent of the $2.24 million we raised in June came from Alabamians because that's who I'll be going to work for and representing every single day."
"What we're seeing now is a reaction to the incredible momentum that continues to build for our campaign. My opponent is obviously panicked; he's been in elected office for 40 years, but the people of Alabama are eager for a real conservative choice and someone who's going to bring change to D.C. My opponent lost statewide in 2006. He lost again statewide in 2017. And he's going to lose in 2022, because our Alabama First team is on the road to victory."
What we’re seeing today is a reaction to the incredible momentum that continues to build for our campaign.
— Katie Britt for AL (@KatieBrittforAL) July 11, 2021
Some more thoughts from the trail:#alpolitics #BrittForAlabama #AlabamaFirst pic.twitter.com/h8gYzjVYyn
Her comment came after Trump endorsed Rep. Brooks for Senate, in which he said Britt is "not what Alabama wants."
His statement continued: "She is not in any way qualified and is certainly not what our country needs."
Trump then fired a shot at the Republican Senate minority leader, adding: "For Mitch McConnell to be wasting money on her campaign is absolutely outrageous. Vote for Mo Brooks."
Rep. Brooks praised Trump in a statement and said the former president backed him as he was a "real deal conservative."
According to WAFF, Brooks added: "GOP primaries are often broken into two groups of candidates: 'real deal conservatives' and 'pretenders' who parrot back to citizens what their polls say voters want to hear.
"I am very thankful President Trump knows the difference and vigorously supports 'MAGA Mo' Brooks as the 'real deal conservative' for the U.S. Senate."
Brooks also echoes Trump's firebrand statements and this weekend asked Conservative Political Action Conference attendees if they would be ready "to fight" for America.
The comments echoed his controversial remarks ahead of the January 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol.
He said on Friday: "Our choice is simple: We can surrender and submit, or we can fight back" against "dictatorial socialists" and Democratic control.
Update 7/13/21 9:41 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include comments from Britt.
