The South Carolina senator – the only candidate from one of the four early voting states – posted a video saying he was proud of his campaign, which he said was focused on the nation’s security.
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In the CNN interview, Graham acknowledged that he had “hit a wall”.
A supporter of comprehensive immigration reform and an aggressive interventionist foreign policy, Graham never gained traction as a presidential candidate despite his extensive national security experience and the quick wit he displayed on the campaign trail. He was urged to run by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, who was the GOP presidential nominee in 2008.
However, that never translated into support in the polls. Graham responded by calling Trump a “jackass”. The efficient cause of this decision was the filing deadline for the primary in his home state of SC.
As a response, Graham made a YouTube video on ways to smash your phone.
“I just don’t see how we grow the campaign without getting on the main stage”, he said.
Marco Rubio has picked up three endorsements from Senate Republicans this year.
“With Sen. Lindsey Graham’s announcement, Republicans lost our most qualified, thoughtful, fearless and honest presidential candidate, not to mention the candidate with the best (and it seemed sometimes the only) sense of humor”, McCain said in a statement. “Today most of my fellow candidates have come to recognize this is what’s needed to secure out homeland”.
Graham, a member of the conservative class that swept into control of the House in 1994 has, at times, joined Democrats on other high-profile votes.
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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry have also abandoned their bids for the Republican nomination.
