It had been speculated that Graham could be a potential presidential candidate since at least October 2014, when he had stated that he would explore running for president in the 2016 election if he were re-elected as a Senator in the 2014 election,[8] and began appearing at events and discussing a potential Presidential bid.[9] Graham was previously considered as a possible running mate for Republican presidential nominee John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, however former Alaska GovernorSarah Palin was later chosen for the job.
In March 2015, at a Republican forum in New Hampshire, Graham advocated reversal of recent cuts in defense spending, and quipped: "If I were President of the United States, I wouldn't let Congress leave town until we fix this. I would literally use the military to keep them in if I had to."[10]
Graham speaking at an event hosted by the Iowa Republican Party in October 2015.
In April 2015, Graham told Chris Wallace, on the Fox News Sunday show, that he was "91% sure" he would run for president. "If I can raise the money, I'll do it," he said.[11] On May 18, 2015, Graham informally announced that he would run for president on CBS This Morning, saying he was running because he thinks "the world is falling apart."[12]
Graham made the official announcement of his candidacy for President on June 1, 2015, in his home town of Central, South Carolina.[13]
On July 20, 2015, Graham called Donald Trump a "jackass" during an interview on CNN because he was offended that Trump had criticized John McCain. The next morning he called Trump a "jackass" again in an appearance on CBS This Morning. In response, Trump ridiculed Graham for asking him for help to get on Fox & Friends and gave out Graham's mobile phone number.[14] Graham responded by releasing a video in which he destroyed his phone.[15]
Graham failed to qualify for the CNN debate on August 6, 2015, but participated in the secondary debate. Similarly, he participated in the secondary debates on CNN (September 16) and CNBC (October 28). In October, Graham was still only polling around 1% and his candidacy was viewed as a long shot.[16] In early November the super PAC Security is Strength purchased a $1 million ad buy in New Hampshire for early which touted Graham's hawkish foreign policy stances and military service.[17]
On December 21, 2015, Graham suspended his campaign[1] and, on January 15, 2016, endorsed former Florida GovernorJeb Bush.[18] However, once Bush and Florida Senator Marco Rubio dropped out, Graham endorsed Texas Senator Ted Cruz on March 17.[19] Graham's endorsement of Cruz was unenthusiastic, comparing the choice between Cruz and Trump "like being shot or poisoned."[20] After Cruz announced he was suspending his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination on May 3, 2016, Graham said: "If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed... and we will deserve it."[21] On May 6, 2016, Graham announced he would not vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, commenting: "I think Donald Trump is going to places where very few people have gone and I'm not going with him."[22] He ended up choosing to write-in third party candidate Evan McMullin.[23]
^Schwartz, Maralee; Stencel, Mark (October 6, 1991). "UNMARRIED CANDIDATES CONFRONT TRADITION". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 29, 2017. Adlai E. Stevenson, the divorced Democrat from Illinois who was defeated by Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956.
^Phillips, Kate; Bumiller, Elisabeth (December 11, 2007). "The Early Word: Storming Iowa". The New York Times. Retrieved May 29, 2017. The country has not elected a bachelor president since 1884, when Grover Cleveland won the White House.........The last unwed candidate chosen by a major party was Adlai Stevenson, the divorced Democrat who lost to Republican Dwight Eisenhower twice in the 1950s.
