Lindsey Graham Panics Over Donations: ‘We’re Getting Creamed’

For all the historic intensity of the presidential election it remains true that the congressional races – both Senate and House – are critical to the future of both parties and hence the country. Like all races and future plans, money is required – a lot of money. Sure, a ton of money has been raised, more than in any previous election. But there is never enough, especially when the future remains clouded. At times it seems like the only thing we know about the future is that money will drive it. Lindsey Graham sure knows it which likely explains why he went on Sean Hannity’s show to make his plea.

Lindsey began with the lament that Republicans were behind. It is somewhat hard to believe his desperate plea is all-consuming because he would say the same without regard to bank balances. You cannot raise money by saying, “We’re good. We’ve got lots, I’m sure we’ll get more but thanks for the concerns.” No, one must play to the ultimate fear – losing.

The future winners and losers haven’t been determined but that wasn’t about to hold Lindsey back. Per Mediaite, Lindsey said:

“The United States Senate needs to have enough Republicans to help this president enact his agenda,” he said. “I don’t want 51. I want more. So, I’m here tonight to give you a wake-up call.”You said every vote counts. Well, every donation counts, too. We’re getting creamed on the Senate when it comes to raising money. Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan, our candidates are being out-raised 3-1.”

Wake up? The American people are a lot of things right now but “asleep” isn’t one. Whether people have money they want to contribute and to whom to bestow their savings is a different question. Lindsey’s numbers do sound familiar as we have spent many columns detailing the Democrat’s fundraising prowess, which – unfortunately, may or may not matter in the end. What matters is “more money.”

The Senate map itself is just ominous to Democrats with a lot of opportunities to drop seats in red or purple states and basically none to pick up anywhere. There is one lone exception that has become of interest and that is Ted Cruz’s vulnerability to himself and Texas. If any Republican could lose in Texas it would be Cruz – who was also on Hannity earlier in the week, even adding a “please” before asserting that he needs help. Nice of him.

But Lindsey Graham was the one leading the call for the whole team and he laid out the stakes, even if he’s a bit off:

“What about the Supreme Court? If [Trump] is president of the United States, with a Republican Senate, we can have a generation of conservatives on the Supreme Court. This is a very big deal to shape the court for the next generation.”

This would be far more compelling if there was not already a generation-shaping conservative court already in place. The “liberal” wing is young and “there.” Replacing the senior conservatives depends almost wholly on who is president, not so much the Senate. Not that Graham was going to give away his most convincing argument.

Lindsey is often aggravatingly right about things. He has established himself as one of the most powerful senators by being a guy who can both see the current landscape, explain it, while also looking toward the future. With McConnell on his way out to a gold watch, Graham is likely trying to solidify his spot going into the future. There is no better way to get there than helping out his fellow Republicans.

Of course, it takes money. That’s the only help anyone needs, or at least of interest.

God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak

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