Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham announced Monday that he is ending his campaign for president. In a video posted on YouTube, the South Carolina Senator said he was “honored” by the support he’s received so far and ran a “problem solver’s campaign” during his time in the race. “I got into this race to put forward a plan to win a war we cannot afford to lose and to turn back the tide of isolationism that was rising in our party,” he said. “I believe we made enormous progress in this effort.”
Graham launched his campaign in June and has focused on national security. Although he is no longer running, Graham said he would continue his commitment to “achieving security through strength.”
Shortly after Graham’s announcement, prominent Republicans began weighing in. Arizona Senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain said with Graham out Republicans had “lost our most qualified, thoughtful, fearless, and honest presidential candidate.” McCain said the South Carolinian had the most “national security experience, and, in my opinion, the most practical and honorable views of American world leadership.”
Fellow presidential candidate former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also issued a statement via Twitter. “Nobody is more clear-eyed about ISIS,” than Graham, Bush wrote. “As he leaves the race I hope our party & country listen to his counsel.”
Meet the Three Best Friends Who All Ran for President
During their time in the Senate together, Arizona Sen. John McCain, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham became close friends.Paul J. Richards—AFP/Getty ImagesThe three Senators, shown here in 2009, often appeared at each other's press conferences.Chris Kleponis—Getty ImagesShown here on a trip to Baghdad in 2006, the Senators were known as "the three amigos," after a 1980s comedy starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short.Khalid Mohammed—Pool/CorbisThough they have different temperaments, the three Senators have an easygoing rapport that's clear when they are together, as in this 2008 walk-through of the GOP national convention stage.Sacramento Bee/MCT/Getty ImagesThe three amigos, shown here at a White House summit in 2009, have something else in common: They've all run for president.Kevin Lamarque—ReutersLieberman ran for vice president in 2000 alongside Al Gore then mounted his own unsuccessful bid for the nomination in 2004.Jason Reed—Reuters/CorbisMcCain made an unsuccessful primary run in 2000 and then became the GOP nominee in 2008, where he was often accompanied by Lieberman and Graham on the campaign trail. Mauricio Duenas—AFP/Getty ImagesThe three Senators watched the Super Bowl in a hotel lobby bar during the 2008 campaign.Charles Dharapak—APGraham and Lieberman were with McCain as he barnstormed in the final 24 hours of his 2008 presidential campaign.Ethan Miller—Getty ImagesThey even accompanied him on a campaign trip to Amman, Jordan, in 2008.Nasser Nasser—APGraham is now readying his own bid for the Republican nomination in 2016. Alex Brandon—APThough Lieberman is a Democrat-turned-independent and Graham and McCain are Republicans, the three Senators, shown here on a 2010 trip to Afghanistan, share similar views on a muscular foreign policy. Ahmad Masood—Reuters/CorbisThe three Senators, shown here laying a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, also share strong support for Israel.Yehuda Raizner—AFP/Getty ImagesAfter Lieberman left the Senate in 2013, McCain and Graham, shown here greeting former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, continued to work together. Tom Williams—CQ-Roll Call/Getty ImagesBut they'll always be remembered as the "three amigos."Scott J. Ferrell—CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
