Democratic challenger Paul Davis is shrugging off a national Republican figure’s suggestion that critics of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback are akin to the evil “Eye of Mordor.”

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum made the reference to “The Lord of the Rings” Monday during a rally in Wichita for Brownback.

Santorum said that like the ever-open evil eye in the fantasy saga, the conservative GOP governor’s foes are constantly searching “to try to oppress and defeat.” He also said that “the future of the free world is at stake” as Brownback seeks re-election.

Davis said Tuesday after an event in Topeka that he and his supporters are simply responding to voters who are worried about Brownback’s fiscal policies and the future of public schools.