Its About Time That Graham Drops Out

Republican Lindsey Graham drops out of presidential race

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Tribune News Service

COLUMBIA, S.C. (TNS) — Sen. Lindsey Graham dropped out of the Republican presidential race Monday, saying his campaign helped make foreign policy a top issue despite failing to gain traction.

In a video message, Graham recalled saying, early in his campaign, “Any candidate who did not understand that we need more American troops on the ground in Iraq and Syria to defeat ISIL (the Islamic State terrorist organization) is not ready to be commander in chief.

“At that time, no one stepped forward to join me,” Graham said, adding, “Today, most of my fellow candidates have come to recognize this is what’s needed to secure our homeland.”

In a CNN interview, Graham said he “has no intention of endorsing anyone right now” but will consider supporting another GOP presidential candidate.

Graham previously had said he planned to wait until the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary to re-evaluate his campaign. But he decided to move forward that timetable and drop off because his candidacy has failed to gain traction.

“I don’t want to be the undercard voice,” Graham said, adding it has been frustrating being “put at the kiddie table.”

Graham’s national poll numbers — reaching 2 percent briefly last spring — disqualified him from participating in several prime-time GOP presidential debates, where he could have interacted directly with GOP front-runner Donald Trump and other leading candidates.

Instead, Graham participated in earlier “happy hour” debates where he performed well, according to reviews, but did not get the same exposure.

“You just can’t punch through when you have a two-tier system,” Graham told CNN Monday, adding the best way for him to make a difference is to consider supporting another candidate while continuing to share his message. “We’re going to have to start consolidating as Republicans.”

Graham started out strong in South Carolina polls and raised $1.3 million in the state through the end of September, more than any other presidential candidate. But his support quickly dropped off. Some polls showed most South Carolina Republicans thought Graham should drop out.

In South Carolina, Graham’s support — 17 percent support in a February poll — had fallen to 2 percent in recent polls. Graham has polled around 1 percent or less in most national polls.

Graham’s decision to quit the race Monday was on the same day as the deadline to have his name removed from the ballot in the state’s Feb. 20 primary.

–Jamie Self
The State (Columbia, S.C.)

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(c)2015 The State (Columbia, S.C.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.