Lindsey Graham, cruising to primary victory, tackles controversial issues on campaign trail

washingtonexaminer.com ^ | 4/29/14 | Rebecca Berg

[cotton1706]

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- When Sen. Lindsey Graham received a major endorsement last week from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the setting was, from a campaign-optics perspective, nearly perfect.

Graham, joined by representatives from the national and regional arms of the organization, stood in a vast warehouse of a local manufacturer, where he was flanked by supporters holding signs. But as Graham began to speak, a driving rain pounded the warehouse roof, drowning out all other noise. The Republican senator had no microphone, and so he did his best to yell out his remarks.

Had Graham been facing a competitive challenge to his re-election this year, the inclement weather might have ruined an important campaign event. But Graham isn't, and the soggy audio didn't matter.

Instead, Graham, counter to the early prognostications of many, has quelled any potential threats from Tea Party insurgents and, two months ahead of the Republican primary, is cruising to a third term in the Senate -- still gleefully tackling those controversial topics that might have made him vulnerable in the first place.

Graham is in this position by no accident. Wary of other incumbents who have not prepared for competitive re-election campaigns and lost, Graham and his campaign team have spent the intervening years raising money and shoring up support among South Carolina's political class -- all but guaranteeing Graham's path to victory.

Graham's longtime campaign manager, Scott Farmer, recalled a motto beloved by former South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond to describe Graham's approach: “Senator Thurmond had a saying: ‘You always run like you're behind and take nothing for granted.' Sen. Graham has always taken that advice to heart and run very aggressive campaigns.”

[cotton1706]

“At least we keep the R which is needed to have any voice in the Senate and House. Keep in mind we cannot stop the communists Democrats unless we build the R base regardless because we do not like a RINO. We have no power to stop this dictatorship because we do not have the Senate. The speaker has control of the floor and bills from the House goes nowhere. If we can get a super majority in the Senate we can dethrone King Obama. Better chance than we have now.”

Normally I would agree with you. But there are two people this election cycle who are so odious that they should be removed from power at all cost: Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham. They do not add to our numbers, they actually detract from our numbers.

[prof.h.mandingo]

eRINO’s are just democrats waiting to come out of the closet. Do you honestly think a RINO supermajority will do anything? I have no illusions. Nothing will happen. They have no spine and will not fight. Time for pitchforks and tar.

[Resettozero]

...there are two people this election cycle who are so odious that they should be removed from power at all cost: Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham. They do not add to our numbers, they actually detract from our numbers.

+1

Kentuckians will have to deal with the former.

[prof.h.mandingo]

I hope you are correct. But never underestimate the stupidity of the American voter. Even in South Carolina.

[peekaboo]

THe conservatives can not win without republicans voting for them either..Thus Conservative alone to do not have the numbers we all need each other to send Harry reid packing or no longer majority leader

[peekaboo]

THe conservatives can not win without republicans voting for them either..Thus Conservative alone to do not have the numbers we all need each other to send Harry reid packing or no longer majority leader

[Resettozero]

Do you honestly think a RINO supermajority will do anything? I have no illusions. Nothing will happen. They have no spine and will not fight.

I have come to agree with this. It's a major point that needs restating on FR and elsewhere until (I like dreamin') the GOPe sheds its facade of an exoskeleton and listens to those who already have come out of their (R) party or are willing and planning to very soon.

[Resettozero]

THe conservatives can not win without republicans voting for them either..Thus Conservative alone to do not have the numbers we all need each other to send Harry reid packing or no longer majority leader.

Yes, this is from the Progressives' and GOPe's crib sheet of emphasis points to spread far and wide.

[RegulatorCountry]

THe conservatives can not win without republicans voting for them either..Thus Conservative alone to do not have the numbers we all need each other to send Harry reid packing or no longer majority leader

The Republicans cannot win without conservatives voting for them either... Thus Republicans alone do not have the numbers, we all need each other to send Harry Reid packing or no longer majority leader.

See, it's a two-way street. Funny how that works. It's the reason Lindsey Graham is being primaried. He is not conservative.

[Resettozero]

Instead, Graham, counter to the early prognostications of many, has quelled any potential threats from Tea Party insurgents and, two months ahead of the Republican primary, is cruising to a third term in the Senate.

Let's see; the primary is June 10th, the possible run-off three weeks following. We haven't voted yet, have we?

The smiling snake charmer may be in for a rude snakebite. We'll see.

[cotton1706]

“The smiling snake charmer may be in for a rude snakebite. We’ll see.”

I truly hope you’re right. I think he’ll probably face a runoff, but then he’ll blister the airwaves with ads.

I’m hoping some momentum may be built with forcing a runoff in North Carolina on May 6th, nominating Ben Sasse on May 13th, forcing a runoff in Georgia on May 20th, defeating or severely weakening McConnell on May 20th, defeating Ray Hall in Texas on May 27th and defeating Thad Cochran on June 3rd.

The establishment is working very hard to win all of these.

[Resettozero]

The establishment is working very hard to win all of these.

Well, yeah. That's how they make their living (plus a few expenses).

In the Upstate, the ad popping up the most on TV is a Graham-Scott combo.

GRAHAM IS RUNNING ON THE COATTAILS OF TRUE CONSERVATIVE TIM SCOTT WHO HAS YET TO BE ELECTED!

That should give folks a clue.

[Sam Gamgee]

No wonder Graham treats conservatives with contempt. He doesn't even need them to get re-elected.

[Stingray51]

This is right out of the Establishment playbook: cause the insurgents to lose heart by repeating, over and over again, that the election is over, their guy is going to win easily, etc.... Nobody on our side should accept that. This is just a call to work harder.

[Resettozero]

No wonder Graham treats conservatives with contempt. He doesn't even need them to get re-elected.

We'll see. Remember, too many S.C. folks voted straight-ticket R in 2008 because of Sarah Palin's presence on the ballot. LG was inadvertently re-elected.

In 2014, S.C. conservatives have not forgotten either SP or LG.

[upchuck]

I'm pretty much calling BS on this article. I wonder if Rebecca Berg is on linda's campaign team? She says linda's cruising to victory and then offers no proof. No polling, nothing. Nothing about linda's opponents. And, IMHO, nothing about South Carolina's all important primary 50% rule.

And what's the big deal, except for a pile of campaign cash, about the Chamber of Commerce's endorsement. These are the guys who, along with dear linda, want to make criminal aliens legal and maybe US citizens. What?

For a very different perspective on this race, mash here.

Uber RINO Lindsey Ping
"Republican by day, Democrat by night."

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Just FReepmail me.
Support ABLE, the Anybody But Lindsey Effort. Yes, we are ABLE!!

[Wallace T.]

I hope you are right. South Carolina is the most culturally Southern of the five South Atlantic states, with fewer immigrants from north of the Potomac of the sort that have damaged the conservative cause in VA, FL, and NC. The Palmetto State was the first state to secede in the crisis of 1860-61. SC deserves representation worthy of its history and heritage.

[Resettozero]

Zowie! This stupid article just got pick up by Drudge. Well, maybe the readers will see through it.

[Cheerio]

How revolting. Perhaps the TEA party is indeed impotent, or there are a lot of GOP LIV in the state of S.C. WAKE UP AMERICA this just might be the last election in which we have time to still turn this country around, or we jump off the cliff following the policies of ONE combined party trying to convince us they are indeed different....

[ObamahatesPACoal]

I think that’s why DeMint endorsed Christine O’Donnell.

It is more important to have 41 votes than 51 with a lot of RINO’s not being held accountable.

Id vote for the Democrat even if he is as bad as Graham on immigration. Joe Donnelly and those others who won those races are not major forces for any agenda on the senate floor.