Illinois Senate candidate Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., criticized the National Republican Senatorial Committee for releasing a tweet that appeared to be a swipe at her status as a disabled veteran.  

Earlier in the day, the NRSC released a now-deleted tweet saying, “Tammy Duckworth has a sad record of not standing up for our veterans.” Duckworth lost both of her legs during the Iraq War while piloting a helicopter. In response, Duckworth’s deputy campaign manager and spokesman, Matt McGrath, criticized the tweet.  

“Tasteless and dishonest, just like everything else to do with Mark Kirk’s flailing campaign,” he said in a statement. “Tammy has made fighting for veterans her life’s work, and will continue to do so in the Senate.”  

The NRSC released a statement to Talking Points Memo about the tweet.  

“It would be great if reporters would pay as much attention to a deleted tweet as they should to Tammy Duckworth being sued by VA whistle-blowers for ignoring claims of mistreatment and corruption,” it said.  

Duckworth has her Senate primary against former Chicago Urban League President and CEO Andrea Zopp and state Sen. Napoleon Harris next week.  

Contact Garcia at EricGarcia@cqrollcall.com and follow him on Twitter @EricMGarcia