Graham to endorse Bush

Senator Lindsey Graham, the hawkish Republican whose 2016 primary campaign fizzled despite his persistent call for resetting USA national security policy, announced Friday he is endorsing Jeb Bush for president.

Jeb Bush – still slumping in polls – has been looking for a way to jump-start his campaign, but an endorsement from a former candidate who couldn’t break through either probably won’t give Bush the upswing he needs.

Graham’s camp said the state’s senior senator is supporting Bush because he “is prepared to be commander-in-chief on Day One”, according to The Charleston Post and Courier, which first reported the news.

Graham called the former Florida governor thoughtful and quietly resolved to protect America’s interest. “And along with it come a lot of friends and supporters of his, so I’m excited about it”. Graham never broke out of the GOP undercard debates or the low single digits in national polls. Graham complimented Bush’s temperament and attitude.

“He’s steady and ready”, Graham was expected to say. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. speaks in Washington. The victor of the South Carolina Republican primary has gone on to win the party’s nomination in every election but one since 1980-2012, when former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won the state before former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney clinched the standard-bearer title. But RealClear Politics data showed Bush polling at 8.5 percent in sc, putting him again in fifth place. While his endorsement could be meaningful in influencing the SC primaries, it won’t matter if, as Bush’s donors hope, he drops out after New Hampshire.

“In Iowa, it’s a question of organization”. No candidate has thus far emerged as the consensus favorite of the anti-Trump, anti-Cruz party establishment, and if that vote remains split heading into New Hampshire, the chances of stopping Trump or Cruz diminish significantly. In South Carolina, a great organization matters.

“South Carolina is going to reset the race on February 20”.