'Talking a lot of smack': Nancy Mace launches public feud with 'loser' Kevin McCarthy

After U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) joined seven other Republican House members in U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz's (R-FL) campaign to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in September, the two have been publicly at odds.

According to The Daily Beast, during a Capitol Hill visit last week, McCarthy told reporters, "I hope Nancy gets the help she needs, I really do. I just hope she gets the help to straighten out her life. I mean, she’s got a lot of challenges."

The California lawmaker then took aim at Mace's reputation for having massive turnover in her office. One of three staff members who resigned or were fired in December — Chief of Staff Don Henlon — called his former boss' office a "toxic work environment."

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McCarthy emphasized, "No one will stay working for her. You can’t have somebody who just flips and flops based upon what TV station she gets put on. You want someone who’s willing to work, and so I hope she gets that kind of help."

Mace took to social media Monday in response to former speaker, writing, "Kevin McCarthy just can't help himself as I am living rent free in his head. He got one thing right, however; I do need help. I need your help to fight back against the corrupt DC establishment and their handpicked puppet. Chip in today."

The South Carolina GOP leader also included a video of herself speaking directly to her supporters, saying, "Hey everyone, Nancy Mace here. Guess what? I heard the former speaker — disgraced former speaker — was talking a lot of smack this week and said that I need help. Well, guess what? I do need help. I need your help to raise a dollar, $5, $10, $100 for my campaign to hit back against the establishment, to hit back against corrupt DC, to hit back against people like McCarthy."

She continued, "He put our majority at risk. He lied to the American people. He couldn’t even hold his speakership because he’s a loser. So, yeah, Kevin — I need help. I need help to raise money so I can hit back at you and your handpicked opponent, who’s now your puppet running in South Carolina against me."

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The Hill's Caroline Vakil reported last week that as she seeks a third term this year, Mace is currently "is facing a top GOP primary battle that could keep her from making it to the general election."

Gaetz told Vakil, "Kevin wants payback for being removed, and the fiction there is that he's going to fare better in the Lowcountry of South Carolina than he fared on his home turf in Washington, D.C."