Liz Cheney Says Opponent Mike Enzi Is ‘Confused’ (VIDEO)

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Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney who launched a bid for U.S. Senate in Wyoming earlier this week, said Wednesday that her Republican rival was “just confused” when he claimed he had no idea she would mount a challenge against him in the 2014 race. 

After she announced her candidacy on Tuesday, incumbent Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) expressed surprise to reporters.

“She said that if I ran she wasn’t going to run, but obviously that wasn’t correct,” Enzi said. “I thought we were friends.”

But speaking at a press conference in Casper, Wyo., Cheney disputed Enzi’s claim and said the three-term senator may be “just confused.”

“I think Sen. Enzi may be confused,” Cheney said, suggesting that Enzi may have mixed her up with Rep.Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) before explaining her interpretation of events.

“What happened is, I called Sen. Enzi to tell him that I was considering a run, and I have always believed that that decision should be made irrespective of whoever else is in the race,” she said.  

She added: “So, it’s not true. I did not tell Sen. Enzi I wouldn’t run if he did. I suppose he’s just confused.”

Cheney has drawn charges of ageism for her choice of words, with some criticizing her taking thinly veiled a swipe at the 69-year-old Enzi. On Wednesday, the incumbent emphatically rejected the notion that his age is a liability.

“I’m absolutely not too old to be senator. I’m the median age,” Enzi told CNN, touting the trust he’s earned in the Senate. 

In her video announcing her candidacy, Cheney did not mention Enzi by name but said it’s time for a “new generation of leaders” in the Senate.

 

 

(Photo and video via ABC News)

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