Posted on 07/24/2013 5:44:01 AM PDT by cotton1706
Could Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) face a tough primary challenge from a Tea Party candidate?
One Graham ally says “yes.”
Former South Carolina GOP chairman Katon Dawson told the Washington Examiner Sen. Lindsey will probably face a “spirited” and “competitive” primary challenge — but he’s confident the South Carolina lawmaker will prevail in 2014.
“We look forward to a very successful season, but certainly it’ll be competitive,” Dawson told the Washington Examiner.
“Senator Graham has been one of the most successful politicians at the ballot box and has cut the hide of a South Florida alligator when it comes to campaigns and elections,” Dawson added.
As the chief if the pro-Graham “West Main Street Values” super PAC, Dawson said his organization would ”meet the independent expenditure front that’s being mounted against the senator.”
Sen. Graham’s campaign has roughly $6.3 million on hand, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Dawson’s group plans to add to that amount.
The senator’s Tea Party challenger (whoever he or she is) may have a few options available to combat his financial backing — but it’s unclear what they are.
“A spokesman for The Club for Growth, a powerful conservative group that was instrumental in the 2012 primary defeat of Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., said that the organization is watching the race but hasn’t decided to intervene,” the Washington Examiner’s Joel Gehrke writes.
“Certainly in the Tea Party groups we have friends and foes, [as] in all type of groups,” Dawson said.
“When you’re a senator who tackles big issues and big problems to help move our state forward and our country forward, we expect to not always be favorable in every type of group there is.”
I live in sc border state. Our tea party plans to campaign in primary against pantywaists graham
There will be a spirited challenge......inside info I cannot divulge just yet....but yes, it’s coming.
I just hope the challenger is someone with actual experience and conservative credentials. The two I’ve heard mentioned so far are very lacking and will get eaten up by the GOP establishment machine here.
Mark Sanford. Total forgiveness earned.
A contested primary will still be a good exercise in that it will contrast Graham's political stances versus those of a conservative.
Odds Grahamnesty will be defeated?
Who in God’s name in SC would continue to vote for this freak?
As far as I can determine he is well liked in S.C.....is that not right? Anyone!!!
Lindsay, Lamar, Mitch... they ALL need real challengers!
No, that's not right. What's wrong with South Caroliners?
I wasn’t asking about the fact I was asking about the statement!!!
The odds are against it....at this point...but the odds are always against an insurgent campaign at this point. The odds were against Rubio v Crist, Lee v Bennett, Mourdock v Lugar, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and others similarly. It took McCain 21 million to beat JD Hayworth and Graham cannot spend anywhere near that.
Thus, I am energized, and perhaps will be part of this effort in a significant capacity.
When my daughters were 4 and 1, my wife died from breast cancer at 28 and I became a single-parent Although they’re young adults now, the #1 focus in my life is to save their future from obamatollah’s communist dictatorship he is establishing with the help of liberals like Linda Gramnesty, Juan McInsane’s girl friend.
Gramnesty MUST go as an important part to save our Constitution.
Keep up the great patriotic work, CEW!
Sounds like you sir are the true patriot....we’ll fight this together!
I’ll drink to that...but these daze, I’ll drink to anything!
:-)
Yep. But there is precedent as you mention; Nikki Haley winning as SC governor is another.
I've only seen some GO'Proud' gomer (liberal plant?) and a lady who graduated from the Citadel (but is associated with Will Folks FITS BAD news) talk about running against lady lindsey. Surely SC can do BETTER?!
If Newt and Sarah could get behind a better candidate ... Lee Bright(?) ... who knows what could happen ...?
Anyone know of Lee Bright? He sounds like the best Plan B since Tom Davis declined.
I do not refer to that person...no. I figure she’s a plant by Graham.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.