Senator Graham announced his candidacy on June 1.
Graham is a hawk who likes to mix it up on national security with the more libertarian – and less interventionist – Sen. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky, another 2016-er. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a close ally of Graham’s and the Republican Party’s 2008 presidential nominee, has long been talking up “Graham 2016.”
South Carolina holds the first Southern primary, and Graham may see his home state as the launch point for a successful run. But analysts say that a focus on national security is likely not enough to carry him to the nomination.
