Democrat-backed independent Nebraska Senate candidate Dan Osborn faces accusations that he was caught on a hot mic insulting Trump supporters.

“Billy Bob in f***ing Red Cloud, Nebraska, who lives next door to the f***ing Trump store as you pull into town is waving the Trump flag, all he knows is he’s like on the winning team. It’s really that simple,” the speaker who appeared to be Osborn said.

“That is why [Trump’s] been so effective. He’s been so effective at taking Billy Bob and his wife Mary Jane or Mary Jo and telling them, ‘Look, we’re winning, you’re on the winning team.’ And that’s all they care about, because their lives probably suck so f***ing bad,” the audio continued.

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The recording is from a campaign-related event that took place early this summer, according to the Omaha World-Herald. The outlet obtained the audio on Wednesday and said it verified its authenticity with a person who participated in the conversation.

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Osborn acknowledged the audio “sure sounds like me,” in an interview with CNN.

“I talk to a lot of Trump voters, and that’s not it,” he said, when asked if the recorded comments reflect how he actually feels about the president’s supporters.

“What I’m talking about, I’m talking about people are pissed off, people are disenfranchised, especially, and that’s what Trump captured in Nebraska,” Osborn continued. “He captured people who are angry about the political system, and Trump ran outside of that as an outsider.

“That’s what people like about Trump. It’s why I’m running again as an independent, running outside the political system.”

Osborn said the leaked audio sounds “out of character,” and he apologized “to those people that might be offended.”

On Thursday, incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) slammed Osborn, arguing that his comments demonstrate he “looks down” on Trump supporters in the state the president has carried in all three of his campaigns.

“Dan Osborn was caught making derogatory comments about rural Nebraskans in another leaked audio. Dan Osborn continues to show us who he really is. His comments show a clear lack of respect for the Nebraskans who make this state great,” Ricketts said.

“I will continue standing up and delivering for every Nebraskan in every part of this state,” he added.

Trump affirmed his support for Ricketts in the midterm elections, giving the Nebraska Republican his “complete and total endorsement.”

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Fox News shared further:

Osborn’s opponent, incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., told Fox News Digital, “I’ve been to Red Cloud. I’ve been to every corner of Nebraska. The people Dan Osborn is mocking are the hardest-working people in America. They don’t need a candidate who looks down on them. They need a senator who fights for them. That’s what I do every day.”

Earlier this month, Fox News Digital obtained audio of Osborn suggesting he would appeal to Republican voters by distancing himself from progressive issues.

“The state is made up of 50% Republicans, 26% Democrat, 24% independents. So my win numbers, mathematically, I have to get probably 10-15% of Republicans to win this race. How am I going to do that by f—ing saying, ‘Oh, I love trans people, and they should be able to play in sports?’” Osborn said. “F— no, Jane, that’s not how I win. I win by s—ing on the party.”

In another clip, he was heard saying, “I have people recording me, so I can’t say I want to abolish ICE. I can’t say those words. I’ll be f—ed.”

Though Osborn has insisted he was “independent” of the two parties, Fox News Digital reported in May that Osborn’s campaign was predominantly funded by left-wing donors and activist organizations like ActBlue. Osborn has also predominantly supported other Democrats’ campaigns.

 

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