Club for Growth attacks Lugar, Hatch on debt ceiling

By Cameron Joseph - 07/11/11 12:02 PM ET

The Club for Growth is running television advertisements against two veteran Republican senators facing primary threats, warning them to vote against any increase in the debt ceiling or face repercussions.

In the ads, the deep-pocketed, fiscally conservative group also attacked Sens. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) for perceived past impurities in their records.

The group, which has contributed to other GOP incumbents' primary losses in recent years, could be a major player in creating primary problems for both Lugar and Hatch if they decide to oppose their reelection campaigns. The Club is spending is spending six figures on the ad in Indiana and a smaller sum on the ad in Utah.

“As we near the culmination of the debate over the debt limit in Washington, Republicans must stand strong for genuine spending cuts to get to a balanced budget, strict spending caps and permanent reform,” Club for Growth President Chris Chocola said in a press release.

“A close examination of the 35-year records of Senators Lugar and Hatch raises serious concerns about whether they will ultimately insist on this. Senator Lugar and Senator Hatch must hear the loud voices of constituents fed up with never-ending spending and debt.”

Lugar faces a primary challenge from Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock.

"It's a shame that out of state interest groups are already engaging in needless mud slinging and distortions of Sen. Lugar's conservative record," said Lugar campaign political director David Willkie. "We appreciate and share the Club's concern for the debt and overspending, but these ads are needless distractions and a waste of their money.

"Senator Lugar is firmly committed to opposing President Obama's debt-limit increase without real, substantial and sustained cuts to spending, just as Sen. Lugar voted against President Obama on healthcare and his wasteful stimulus package."

Hatch faces a likely challenge from Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), a conservative firebrand. Hatch's longtime Utah colleague, former Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah), lost in the 2010 primary process. Since then, Hatch has worked to shore up his conservative bona fides.