Posted on 02/01/2015 5:52:38 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Potential presidential contender Lindsey Graham thinks he can appeal to typically right-skewed Republican presidential primary voters, despite non-conservative views on immigration, climate change and federal spending.
Graham, a Republican senator representing South Carolina, is serious about his recently declared interest in entering the already packed 2016 GOP field, even while the move has left the political punditry puzzled.
On Thursday, Graham announced the launch of a formal exploratory committee, “Security through Strength,” to determine, he said, if he can enter the race with a viable campaign.
Graham last week began selling his candidacy on Capitol Hill, telling reporters if he enters the race, he’ll conduct a center-right campaign that will not shy away from the idea of working with Democrats to solve the nation’s problems.
“A center right candidacy can prevail in America,” Graham said to a gaggle of reporters in a Senate hallway last week.
“A center right candidacy can prevail in America,” Graham said to a gaggle of reporters in a Senate hallway last week.
For instance, Graham said, “You can be pro-life, you just have to be articulate and not scary about it. “
Graham likened his candidacy to driving a car down the middle of a road.
“Barack Obama ran as a centrist but he’s been in the left ditch,” Graham said. “To get American out of the left ditch, you don’t want to go into the right ditch.”
But if anyone wants to question Graham’s conservative bona fides, he said they need only look to the June 2014 GOP primary, when he handily defeated six Republican challengers.
“You can’t get more conservative than South Carolina,” Wesley Donehue, a political consultant based in Columbia, S.C., told the Washington Examiner. “Every election cycle someone comes along and says they are going to challenge Lindsey Graham, and he whips them every time.”
But a Graham presidential bid would be tough for conservatives to embrace, in part because of the primary role working with Democrats to draft and pass the 2013 Senate comprehensive immigration reform bill.
The bill would expand visas and work permits, enlarge a program for immigrant agricultural workers and provide a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million people living here illegally.
Graham has also estranged himself from conservatives by embracing the idea that climate change is man-made and must be controlled by reducing carbon emissions. He once co-authored legislation with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., that would have capped carbon emissions with a goal of an 83 percent reduction by 2050.
Graham has since revised his views on climate change, citing new, conflicting scientific evidence. But he still adheres to the notion that climate change is caused at least partly by humans and the nation should “go to a lower carbon economy.” Democrats, Graham said, are “overselling the threat,” of climate change and have proposed legislation he considers “draconian.”
But he defended his efforts to co-sponsor legislation with Democrats as he did with both the climate bill and immigration reform measure.
“Working with the other side when it makes sense is not inconsistent with being conservative,” Graham said.
Graham would also work with Democrats to restore significant federal budget cuts made to both defense and domestic spending, he said, adding that he supports both tax increases and entitlement reform to fill the budget gaps.
“The solution has to be bipartisan,” Graham said.
Graham’s expertise in foreign policy may become his biggest appeal to voters if he jumps into the race, his longtime political advisor Richard Quinn said. Graham served nearly three decades in the Air Force and retired recently with the rank of colonel. Among his Senate colleagues, he is among the most respected lawmakers on issues related to national security and foreign policy.
“I don’t think there is anyone else considering a presidential candidacy who can match the depth of Lindsey’s experience and expertise on national security and national defense,” Quinn told the Examiner. “I believe national security is going to be a key issue, if not the key issue, of the 2016 cycle.”
But a Graham candidacy may have a hard time finding a base of supporters, said pollster Ron Faucheux, President of Clarus Research Group.
There are already several potential candidates from the South, Faucheux said, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who would pick up the support of mainstream Republicans, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who would garner Tea Party support, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who will scoop up Christian conservative voters.
“He doesn’t have an ideological base, which is the downside of being and independent, straight-shooter,” Faucheux told the Examiner.
Massachusetts is unlike any state in the union, but you are quite right in that not being able to carry his own state was yet another great argument against mittens’ candidacy in the first place.
WI isn’t MA. in fact, one of the under reported stories in 2000 was that WI was probably stolen from GWB by vote fraud in Milwaukee. to this day, WI is winnable.
and Christie just isn’t relevant in this conversation. he may not be relevant in ANY conversation ;)
Lindseed's candidacy has but one objective: Deny South Carolina to Ted Cruz.
If he can accomplish that, he'll take his delegates and run.
Go away RINOs!
““Center-right” is Republican establishment hack talk which, translated, means “worthless as teats on a boar hog.””
“Conservative” does not even come into play on the uniparty scale.
Fair enough....Walker and Wisconsin might be different, but in general, blue state GOP Governors are NOT viable in their own states when running for Prez.
Who would donate or vote for Linda?
Who would donate or vote for Linda?
Who? Rove/Soros’ Crossroads...COC....just to name a couple.
Yeah, just ask President Dole.
We haven’t had a bachelor president since James Buchanan. And you sir, are no James Buchanan.
He'll have no problem with the oney he needs to win South Carolina. Hell, Jeb Bush would give it to him.
The question is: Will the South Carolina voters support him? They did during the Senate primary. But will they in a presidential primary?
You can spell Rhino, GRAHAM
But he’s a “bachelor” for the same reason, though.
Who is center right...Pansy? LOL He turned real conservative in the months leading up to the election. Now he’s a liberal again trying to act like he’s not. I have no idea why he keeps winning here. I know not one single person that votes for him.
just like the last two times
Who else believes Lindsey?
Princess Goober is smokin sumptin good.
Sounds like a winner! Graham/Sharpton in ‘16!
“Lindsey Graham: Center-right candidacy can prevail in presidential race”
True...but it won’t be him.
Well actually, Wesley, sorry, but apparently it is easy. Not many red states would elect Lindsay Graham to anything.
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