CNN's political director on Thursday said President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE's Twitter attack on Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina MORE (R-S.C.) is a sign that the president is "desperate" to find a scapegoat to publicly target for opposing his administration in an attempt to build support within his base.

"What he had last November that he didn’t now have as president is an opponent who he's running against," David Chalian said on CNN's "New Day."

"That's what this lashing out is on Twitter. He is desperate to get back into a place like he did with ‘little Marco’ or ‘crooked Hillary’ or ‘lying Ted’ and form opponents here so he can find a way to build back up," Chalian added, pointing to the belittling nicknames Trump used against his GOP primary opponents during his presidential campaign last year.

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Trump went after Graham Thursday morning, painting him as an attention-seeking rival who misrepresented his remarks about the violence that took place at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend.

"Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis & white supremacists, and people like Ms. Heyer. Such a disgusting lie. He just can't forget his election trouncing.The people of South Carolina will remember!" Trump wrote in two separate tweets.

Chalian said Trump, who has lashed out at Graham and other Republicans since taking office, is searching for a common enemy to distract from his own White House woes.

"Let's be clear about what he's doing now this morning obviously. He is desperate for an enemy," Chalian said.

"This is almost like Donald Trump paint by numbers. He's rocked by the coverage. He then leaks out word that there's no regret, no turning back at all, no apologies whatsoever. Then he starts lashing out to find opponents to try to begin to gather some support among his core."

Graham had criticized the president for failing to condemn white supremacist groups whose violent protests in Charlottesville over the weekend turned deadly.

“Through his statements yesterday, President Trump took a step backward by again suggesting there is a moral equivalency between the white supremacists neo-Nazis and KKK members who attended the Charlottesville rally and people like Ms. Heyer. I, along with many others, do not endorse this moral equivalency," Graham said in a statement Wednesday.

Trump blamed "both sides" for the brutality during a fiery press conference at Trump Tower just a day before, aggressively defending his initial remarks that failed to explicitly denounce hate groups for their racist demonstrations.

An Ohio man with ties to the white nationalist groups is accused of intentionally driving his car into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing one woman and leaving at least 19 others injured.