Arizona Sen. Martha McSally calls CNN reporter 'liberal hack' in combative encounter

Maybe Martha McSally was having a bad day.

On Thursday, the senator from Arizona debased CNN reporter Manu Raju by dismissing his questions and calling him a “liberal hack.”

“Manu, you’re a liberal hack. I’m not talking to you,” the senator said, when she refused to answer Raju’s question whether the Senate should accept new evidence as part of its impeachment trial of President Trump.

McSally doubled down a later in the day, tweeting a cellphone video of the exchange apparently shot by one of her aides.

A) you are.
B) here’s the video. https://t.co/zVgk9pBhdf pic.twitter.com/cfFdotLjFK

— Martha McSally (@SenMcSallyAZ) January 16, 2020

Was she triggered? Was it just a political stunt?

Nonetheless, CNN was not amused.

“It is extremely unbecoming for a U.S. senator to sink to this level and treat a member of the press this way for simply doing his job,” the news agency said in a statement.

CNN's Tapper, Bash and King Defend Manu Raju Against Martha McSally's Attack: 'That Was a Ploy' https://t.co/NkU2xYtgQG

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) January 16, 2020

McSally is up for election this year after having been appointed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to fill the seat left open by the death of Sen. John McCain.

WATCH: Our panel reacts to Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) calling a reporter a "liberal hack" as vulnerable Republicans grapple with impeachment pressure. #MTPDaily@SteveKornacki: "You can take her off the list" of Republicans who might side with Democrats. pic.twitter.com/93sYh7GGmd

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 17, 2020

Democrat Mark Kelly continues to dominate the incumbent on the fundraising front and is leading in several polls.

Kelly, a former astronaut, is the husband of former congresswoman Gabby Giffords.