Cochran campaign says senator just joking when claimed ignorance of Cantor loss

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Embattled Senator says he's unaware of Cantor's loss

Two days after Eric Cantor’s primary loss received wide-spread national attention, Republican Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran said he has no idea what happened in Virginia

Two days after Eric Cantor's primary loss received national attention, Mississippi GOP Sen. Thad Cochran -- who's caught in a tight primary race of his own -- said he had no idea what happened in Virginia, though his campaign insists he was simply tired of being asked the same question several times yesterday.

The 36-year incumbent senator is about to face off against Tea Party-backed Chris McDaniel in a run-off election on June 24.

In a sit-down interview with Fox News on Thursday, Cochran, 76, was asked if what happened in Virginia concerns him, considering his own contest.

"I don't know what you're talking about -- what happened in Virginia?" the senator said.

After being told Cantor had just lost his seat, he said: "Well, I haven't really followed that campaign very closely at all."

Told that Cantor had relinquished his post as majority leader, Cochran added: "Yeah well it happens. Uh, you know, members of Congress -- some win, some lose. It's not an automatic proposition that you get reelected just because you've done a good job. Voters make their own decisions and I respect their judgment."

The Cochran campaign told Fox News that the senator was well aware of the outcome in Virginia, and, in fact, had answered several questions about Cantor's loss in an impromptu press gathering prior to the sit-down with Fox.

According to campaign officials, Cochran was somewhat annoyed with being asked the question again in the Fox interview and was simply joking when he said "I don't know what you're talking about."