Sen. Lindsey Graham said he’s mulling a run for the White House in 2016 — but that his colleague, Sen. Marco Rubio, has a ways to go before he’s ready to pursue the same.
“[Rubio is] a good guy, but after doing immigration with him — we don’t need another young guy not quite ready,” Mr. Graham told The Weekly Standard. “He’s no Obama by any means, but he’s so afraid of the right, and I’ve let that go.”
The two senators partnered on a bipartisan immigration bill that ultimately died in Congress. In the meantime, Mr. Rubio lost points with conservatives over his pressing for amnesty for 11 million immigrants in the country illegally — which he denied was amnesty.
Mr. Rubio has since been trying to earn back the trust of conservatives, NBC News reported. But Mr. Graham is feeling confident in his own support with constituents and said he is seriously considering a run for the White House.
“If I get through my general election, if nobody steps up in the presidential mix, if nobody’s out there talking — me and McCain have been talking — I may just jump in to get to make these arguments,” Mr. Graham said, The Weekly Standard reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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