Sen. Lindsey Graham Touts Foreign Policy Credentials In 2016 Pitch

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., touted his foreign policy credentials in a pitch on Face The Nation Sunday suggesting he is seriously considering a run for president.

“I’m very comfortable that I’m in the mainstream of conservatism,” Sen. Graham said in response to questions conservative have regarding his record on immigration. “I have done very well in a red state. And when it comes to national security and understanding the threats our nation faces, I believe I’m the best qualified of anybody on our side of the aisle to offer an alternative to a failed foreign policy of Barack Obama.”

Graham also said that if he was elected president, then fellow-South Carolina Republican lawmaker, Rep. Trey Gowdy, a favorite among conservative circles, would be the next appointed Supreme Court justice.

“And I would expect Democrats to vote for him because he’s a qualified person,” Graham added. “I thought Sotomayor and Kagan, while I would not have chosen them, were very qualified candidates to be picked by a Democratic president.”

Entire Transcript:

NORAH O’DONNELL, FACE THE NATION: Let’s turn now to politics, Senator Graham, because you announced this week that you are considering a run for president.

But as you point out yourself, you voted for both of President Obama’s nominees for the Supreme Court. Your critics call you Lindsey Grahamnesty for your support of immigration reform.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): Right.

O’DONNELL: You believe in climate change.

Can you get elected in a Republican primary? Do you even have a chance?

(LAUGHTER)

GRAHAM: Well, I won in South Carolina. It’s a pretty red state.

I’m for immigration reform, starting with securing your border. All Republicans agree with that, more legal immigration. Paying illegal immigrants under the table is a real threat to the middle- class wage growth. That’s one of the reasons we need to fix immigration.

But my view on immigration is shared by 70 percent of the American people. When it comes to Supreme Court justices, if I get to be president, I would nominate Trey Gowdy. And I would expect Democrats to vote for him because he’s a qualified person. I thought Sotomayor and Kagan, while I would not have chosen them, were very qualified candidates to be picked by a Democratic president.

So, I’m very comfortable that I’m in the mainstream of conservatism. I have done very well in a red state. And when it comes to national security and understanding the threats our nation faces, I believe I’m the best qualified of anybody on our side of the aisle to offer an alternative to a failed foreign policy of Barack Obama.

My organization is called Security Through Strength. We will never have peace with radical Islam, but we can have security.