Republican Lindsey Graham drops out of 2016 presidential race

Sen. Lindsey Graham of SC suspended his presidential campaign Monday, saying he had concluded “this is not my time”, while arguing that his mix of hawkishness on foreign policy and pragmatism on immigration and the economy had made a difference in the race.

In a statement Monday on Sidewire, a political news analysis app, Graham said, “While I am not prepared to make an endorsement, I will continue to speak out in support of candidates who share my commitment to defeating ISIL & solving our nation’s most hard problems”. “I hope you are not, but if you are, I will be there to help you win a war we can’t afford to lose”. We put forward bold and practical solutions to big problems like retiring our debt and fixing a broken immigration system.

Graham was routinely relegated to the undercard GOP presidential debates – the early sessions before the prime-time debates – because his polling numbers weren’t strong enough for him to qualify for the main event.

Graham’s campaign devoted nearly its entire focus to the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which he argues has been mishandled by President Obama.

“I have seen Americans partner with people in the region and that’s the way forward. Today, most of my fellow candidates have come to recognize this is what’s needed”.

The seemingly high point of his campaign came after Trump released Graham’s private cellphone number during a speech in Bluffton, and Graham responded with a humor-driven video in which he demolishes several mobile phones. While Graham has a record of voting against marriage equality and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, he is also a longtime bachelor who has been dubbed “ambiguously gay” by a conservative activist, though Graham has consistently denied the persistent rumors.

He added: “I believe we have made enormous progress in this effort”. In a field of 13 dominated by Donald Trump, there wasn’t room for a bachelor Senator from SC.

A new CBS News poll showed Graham at just 1 percent in SC, and he may have been looking to avoid an embarrassing loss in his home state.

“I’m not surprised because he was pretty low in the polls but I think he was a good candidate”, said Myra Almistead, a Central democrat.

“Watch what you say over here, ” Graham warned Trump.

Both Gov. Nikki Haley – a rising GOP star who is often circulated as a potential running mate for the eventual nominee – and SC U.S. Sen.