Lindsey Graham hawkish, bipartisan in announcing GOP bid for presidency

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham announced his presidential bid in his upstate South Carolina hometown Monday, casting himself as the candidate who would be the toughest on terrorism but also willing to work with Democrats to solve domestic problems at home.

The Republican spent most of his roughly 20-minute speech talking about his commitment to national security.

“Those who believe we can disengage from the world at large and stay safe by leading from behind, vote for someone else. I’m not your man,” Graham told a crowd of about 300 people on Central’s Main Street in front of the building where Graham grew up. “Those who believe the best way to defend ourselves is to lead the world, to make history rather than be overwhelmed by it, I ask for your support.”

Graham gave his speech in front of the liquor store, pool hall and bar his parents ran until they died, 15 months apart. Their deaths left Graham, then a student at the University of South Carolina, as the father figure to his younger sister.

The store – where Graham, his parents and sister shared a single room in the back of the business – highlighted Graham’s hardscrabble upbringing, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college, serving in the military and running for public office.

But, Graham said Monday, “There are a lot of so-called self-made people in this world. I am not one of them. My family, my friends, neighbors and my faith picked me up when I was down, believed in me when I had doubts.

“I’m a man with many debts to my family, my friends, to you, to South Carolina, to the country. I’m running for president to repay those debts.”

Graham said he would work with lawmakers to find consensus on issues that “we so desperately need.”

To Democrats, he said, “Our differences are real, and we'll debate them. But you’re not my enemy. You’re my fellow countrymen.

“I intend to be president not of a single party but of a nation. I want to do more than make big government smaller. I want to help make a great nation greater.”

Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, introduced her brother, telling the story of how Graham became a father figure to her after their parents’ deaths.

“I can remember the day my father passed away, standing in that house absolutely scared to death,” Nordone said. “Lindsey wrapped his arms around me and promised me that he would always be there for me and always take care of me.

“He has never let me down.”

Graham is the ninth Republican to say officially that he is seeking the GOP nomination; others are expected to enter the race as well.

This story was originally published June 1, 2015 at 11:33 AM with the headline "Lindsey Graham hawkish, bipartisan in announcing GOP bid for presidency."