Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina on Friday endorsed Jeb Bush for president, saying Mr. Bush is ready to be commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces “on day one” and that he’s been a consistent voice on the issue of immigration.
“I have concluded without any hesitation, without any doubt, that Jeb Bush is ready on day one to be a commander-in-chief worthy of the sacrifices of the 1 percent who have been fighting this war,” Mr. Graham said at an event with Mr. Bush in North Charleston.
Mr. Graham, who dropped out of the 2016 GOP race last month, said Mr. Bush’s plan to defeat the Islamic State terrorist group “is the most comprehensive and well-thought out of anyone on both sides of the aisle.”
Mr. Graham also said South Carolina, third in line in the GOP nominating contests behind Iowa and New Hampshire, “is going to reset this race.”
“On February the 20th, we’re going to give Jeb Bush the momentum that he needs and deserves to win the nomination,” he said.
Mr. Bush said he had sought out and received Mr. Graham’s advice even when they were both competing for the Republican nomination.
“He’s not doing this for his own ego. He ran because he wanted the voice of a strong national defense and the role of America in the world, the leadership role, to be heard,” Mr. Bush said.
He told Mr. Graham that while he may not have been successful in terms of electoral politics, he was successful in that regard and that he’s “honored” to be his student.
Mr. Graham also lauded Mr. Bush’s consistency on the issue of immigration.
“He hasn’t tried to get ahead in a contested primary by embracing demagoguery,” Mr. Graham said. “Here’s what I’m convinced of more than anything else: that if Jeb Bush is president of the United States, he will put the country ahead of the party.”
Asked about Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, with whom Mr. Graham worked on the “Gang of Eight” immigration bill that passed the Senate in 2013, the South Carolina senator said Mr. Rubio “will be president of the United States one day” but suggested that he is too young for the job right now.
“I think he’s one of the most gifted people I’ve ever met. I like him. But I wasn’t ready to be president at 44,” Mr. Graham said.
Mr. Graham also called out two of his former rivals and slammed businessman Donald Trump’s call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States.
“Don’t run for president as a Republican if you’re going to double down on insanity,” he said. “Ted [Cruz]: You were for legal status. Donald Trump: What you’re talking about makes no sense, it hurts the nation as a whole, and it doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of ever being passed.”
“Right now, immigration is red hot,” Mr. Graham said. “Everybody is running for the cover of not being clear. The thing I like most about Jeb — he hasn’t run away. If he’s president, he’s going to bring us together.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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