Washington Post: Dave Brat tells inmates, 'You think you're having a hard time -- I've got $5 million in negative ads'

"You think you're having a hard time -- I got $5 million worth of negative ads going at me," Brat told Chesterfield County Jail inmates Wednesday, the Post reported.

"How do you think I'm feeling? Nothing's easy. For anybody. You think I'm a congressman. 'Oh, life's easy. This guy's off having steaks,'" Brat continued, in a recording published by The Post. "Baloney, I got a daughter, she's got to deal with that crap on TV every day. It's tough.' "

Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who is running against Brat in an increasingly tight race, called Brat's comments "disturbing and damaging" and accused him of being "more concerned with his own re-election than the struggles and well-being of people in our communities."

"These comments are disturbing and damaging in the way that they belittle and trivialize addiction and the challenges facing those in recovery," Spanberger told The Post. "However, time and time again, Congressman Brat has demonstrated he is a politician who is more concerned with his own re-election than the struggles and well-being of people in our communities, and sadly, his comments aren't surprising."

Spanberger more than tripled the Republican incumbent's third quarter take, bringing in $3.6 million compared to $1 million for Brat.

Neither the Brat campaign nor the Spanberger campaign immediately returned CNN's requests for comment.

President Donald Trump endorsed Brat Thursday morning on Twitter, praising his commitment to key Republican stances on border security, military and veterans affairs, and gun rights.

"Congressman @DaveBratVA7th is one of the hardest working, and smartest, people in Washington." Trump tweeted. He is strong on the Border, Crime, the Military, our Vets and the 2nd Amendment. He is a powerful vote for MAGA and loves the Great State of Virginia. Dave has my Total Endorsement!"