BRAZIL, Ind. — Senator Richard G. Lugar had already been introduced to the Clay County Republican Club as “a leader in reducing the threat of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons,” a man of “Hoosier common sense” and “a true statesman for our time.”

Mr. Lugar himself had reminded the room about the Rolodex of international leaders he had accumulated in 34 years in the United States Senate (a hint of his clout), about his 604-acre family farm in Marion County (his local roots) and about his ability to speak, without notes, of the intricacies of the federal budget (lest anyone think that at age 79, he no longer had the legislative chops for the seventh term he was seeking).

Still, facing his first primary challenge since 1976, here was another constituent with a question reminding him how difficult it was to be a Republican like Richard Lugar right now.

“About a third of our federal debt is borrowed,” Judy Proctor, 64, began. “That is insane.

“China doesn’t want to lend us money, Canada doesn’t want to lend, we’re obviously irresponsible,” she continued, her voice rising and almost breaking. “Then we have Senator Lugar saying: ‘Well, maybe we can make it a little better next year. Maybe after that we can make it a little more better.’ It’s not enough. We have to stop. A third of our budget is borrowed! If we don’t do something dramatic, and soon, we’re done.”