Graham: GOP 'made some pretty poor choices' for Senate candidates this fall

The Hill ^ | 12/04/10 11:46 AM ET | By Michael O'Brien

[onyx]

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that Republicans "made some pretty poor choices" in choosing their Senate candidates this fall.

Graham, in a Senate floor speech on Saturday, made an aside comment underscoring the frustration the GOP faced after some Tea Party-aligned nominees fell short in their campaigns.

"The House had a dramatic election. We picked up seats in the Senate," Graham said, video of which is posted by C-SPAN. "Some of us thought, maybe we could pick up two or three more, but we made some pretty poor choices when it came to candidates."

The South Carolina Republican made the comment as an aside to remarks about the consequences facing lawmakers who vote to allow an increase in taxes. Senate Democrats fell short of the necessary votes in a rare Saturday vote that would have allowed taxes go up on top earners.

Still, Republicans bargaining position in those votes and in legislative fights next year might have been strengthened had the party's nominees performed better in Senate races.

Many of the Tea Party favorites who won GOP primaries went onto disappointing finishes in the general election, some in races where Republicans needed to win if they were to have any hope of reclaiming a Senate majority. Those losing candidates included Christine O'Donnell in Delaware, Ken Buck in Colorado, and particularly Sharron Angle in Nevada, where Republicans had hoped to knock off Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

Graham is seen as a possible incumbent who might face a primary from a Tea Party type when he's up for reelection in South Carolina in 2014.

[onyx]

2014 for him.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Graham is seen as a possible incumbent who might face a primary from a Tea Party type when he's up for reelection in South Carolina in 2014.

You betcha he will!

[KoRn]

Hopefully the SC republicans won’t make such a horrible choice the next time he’s up for reelection. Surely they aren’t as collectively stupid as the Arizona GOP...

[Jim Robinson]

Kick the RINO bastard OUT!

[lurk]

Linda, you’ve got a red laser dot on ya. You might want to freshen up your resume for Christmas 2013.

[Carley]

He mocks the republican primary voters at his peril.

[Cicero]

Well, the worst choice in the last election was Juan McCain. Unfortunately, he made it.

[Vision]

It’s amazing how insulated these people are.

Term limits now.

[Cisco Nix]

STFU Goober!

[Sybeck1]

Is he talking Forina?

[pyx]

Miss Lindsey, you are toast in 2014 and you know it. Its very unfortunate that the electorate has to wait that long.

[StormEye]

"Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that Republicans "made some pretty poor choices" in choosing their Senate candidates this fall.'

In the past also. Graham was a huge error. I can't wait until he's primaried out of office. It's going to happen.

[Bean Counter]

Maybe the Dhimmies will run Alvin Greene against him...

[KarlInOhio]

And how many lost because of half-hearted support by the RNC and the NRSC. The NRSC only put in their money into O'Donnell's campaign after they were shamed into it, then they did little or nothing else. They wanted her to lose as a warning to the Tea Party.

[c-b 1]

Sorry, it wasn’t the Az. GOP that re-elected McCain, it was the stupid voters.

[GeronL]

The poor choices were the RINO’s like this fool.

[paulycy]

[AlexW]

“Hopefully the SC republicans won’t make such a horrible choice the next time he’s up for reelection. Surely they aren’t as collectively stupid as the Arizona GOP.”

I never understood how the great southern state of South Carolina could put up with this RINO POS.

[Graybeard58]

I can agree with him that Mark Kirk "republican" senator elect from Illinois was one piss poor choice. Sit back and watch him out lib Snowe/Collins/Brown in the Senate.

[Will88]

Graham: GOP 'made some pretty poor choices' for Senate candidates this fall

None remotely as poor as the one the South Carolina GOP made in 2008.