Sen. Lindsey Graham told a news program Sunday he is “testing the waters” for a possible presidential run.
The South Carolina Republican said he is establishing a committee to examine his national prospects.
“We’re not polling, but we set up a testing-the-waters committee under the IRS code that would allow me to look beyond South Carolina as to whether or not a guy like Lindsey Graham has a viable path,” Graham said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
A possible Graham candidacy first surfaced last week, when former GOP presidential nominee John McCain made an odd reference to his longtime friend and political ally when he was asked whether Mitt Romney should run for a third time.
“My illegitimate son Lindsey Graham is exploring that option,” McCain said, drawing laughter from reporters. “I am strongly encouraging Sen. Lindsey Graham, particularly with the world the way it is today. No one understands the world today in the way that Lindsey Graham does, in my view.”
Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee and a retired Air Force Reserve colonel, joked about McCain’s remarks with “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd, but said he’s serious about a possible run.
“The good news is, I guess I’m in John’s will and I can get part of the estate,” Graham said. “But I don’t know where this will go, but I’m definitely going to look at it. I think the world is falling apart and I’ve been more right than wrong when it comes to foreign policy. But we’ll see.”
