In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Nation,” Mr. Lugar said, “I have a very conservative voting record over the course of the time I’ve served.”…

Mr. Lugar, 79, said tea party activists overreached in some Senate races in 2010.

“They were people who claimed that they wanted somebody who was more of their tea party aspect, but in doing so, they killed off the Republican chances for a majority,” he said. “This is one of the reasons why we have a minority in the Senate right now.”