Lindsey Graham Launches Dark Horse Presidential Bid

On Monday, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., launched a dark horse bid for the Republican presidential nomination. 

Graham is barely registering in most national polls as well as surveys of Iowa and New Hampshire. But his home state of South Carolina holds the first primary in the South and, in 1988, 1996, 2000 and 2008, helped decide the Republican nomination after Iowa and New Hampshire backed different candidates. In 2012, it was a different story as former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., won South Carolina after former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., took Iowa and New Hampshire backed former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass.

In his campaign launch, Graham stressed his support for strong national security. 

“I did not make this decision lightly,” Graham insisted on Monday. “After months of consideration and years of working to protect and secure our country, I knew I could still do more.

“Our country very much needs a proven leader who is ready to be commander in chief on day one and has the conviction to defeat our enemies; who can inspire Americans to build on the best our country has to offer; and who can cast a vision for a strong, secure and prosperous nation that Americans can rally around and give their full support,” Graham continued. “The greatest issue America faces is the growing threat to our nation's security from terrorist organizations with more capabilities, more arms, more recruits and more safe havens to attack the U.S. than at any time before 9/11.”

Graham stressed his own credentials in his campaign launch. 

“I recently retired as a colonel from the U.S. Air Force Reserves after a 33-year career in the Air Force, National Guard and Reserves,” Graham noted. “ I've visited and served in Afghanistan and the Middle East more than 20 times gaining firsthand knowledge about terror groups that threaten our way of life.

“I’m running for president to do the big things,” Graham insisted. “I believe in the near future our great country is going to face tremendous challenges -- both at home and abroad -- and we are going to need proven leadership to meet those challenges. I have a proven conservative record of getting things done and bringing common-sense solutions to the table. I've been in the middle of debates, confrontations and decision-making on the critical issues -- taxes, job creation, debt, Social Security, energy, military spending and foreign policy. More than anything, our nation needs a president who will make the tough decisions needed to keep us safe and carry on the great promise of America.”