http://www.examiner.com/article/lindsey-graham-turns-hard-right-bid-to-retain-us-senate-seatNovember 5, 2013
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is talking tough and taking a hard right turn in his bid to win the GOP primary in South Carolina. Graham is apparently attempting to appeal to his base and win over conservative voters in light of recent polls that show his support in the South Carolina GOP primary race may be eroding, thanks in part to his soft stance on Obamacare, as well as his support for amnesty for illegal immigrants and spying on American citizens by the NSA.
On Fox News Sunday on Nov. 3, Graham promised to introduce legislation that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
“That’s what a rational, humane society should do,” Graham said to Fox News Sunday host, Chris Wallace. “Protect a child that can feel pain from an abortion, unless there’s the life of the mother, rape or incest involved."
Graham also reiterated his recent promise to block all of President Obama's political appointees until survivors of last year's terrorist attack in Benghazi are allowed to testify before Congress during the broadcast.
“I don’t think it’s over the top to find out what happened to four dead Americans,” he said. “I don't think it’s over the top to talk to survivors. The State Department interviewed these survivors.”
Graham's current GOP primary opponents are not polling well at the moment, but it's early, and the real campaigning hasn't even begun. SC State Senator Lee Bright is polling at 15%, while conservative attorney Richard Cash and Lowcountry businesswoman Nancy Mace are both polling at around 4%. Some SC voters believe Mace may only be in the race to split the vote and ensure a Graham victory according to rumors circulating on Facebook and other social media sites. Those rumors have been floating around for a while, but gained steam over the weekend after Mace was photographed posing with Graham at a tailgate party during the Citadel football team's homecoming game last Saturday. Graham is currently at 51%, but it would only take a slight move to force a runoff in the primary since a candidate needs over 50% to win.
Congressman Mick Mulvaney and former Governor-turned-Congressman Mark Sanford are rumored to be considering a run as well. Bill Connor, a former candidate for lieutenant governor, is also said to be close to joining the race.
Voters opposed to Graham say they are not fooled by his tactics. It's typical of him to latch onto conservative issues at election time, and this time around is no different. His tough talk on Benghazi and abortion doesn't surprise them. Graham's promise to block all of Barack Obama's political appointees until the Benghazi survivors are allowed to testify before Congress rings empty. He certainly wasn't very interested in blocking ultra-liberal SCOTUS appointees Sonya Sotomayor and Elena Kagan during their confirmation process.
He also didn't seem very interested in siding with Republicans to block Obamacare when he had the opportunity. Instead he aligned himself with Harry Reid and the Democrats on the cloture vote a few weeks ago. Graham's excuse for going soft on opposition to Obamacare was that blocking funding of the unpopular healthcare law stood no chance in a Democrat-controlled Senate. Does he really believe his proposed abortion legislation will fare any better?
Graham is calling for support from fellow Republicans to help get the bill passed. “The only way this will work is if my GOP colleagues get behind me and Democrats too and support my request to find out exactly what happened,” he said.
No doubt Graham will find that support among Republicans, unfortunately Senators Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, and other GOP members couldn't count on any support from him during the Obamacare funding fight and the ensuing government shutdown.
