Graham Vows to Challenge "Radical" Views?

“There’s not enough money in the world for Ron Paul to convince people he represents mainstream conservatism,” Graham said.

Oh really?

Former ally says anger spells trouble; Graham says he’s real ‘conservative in the room’

By Ben Szobody
Staff Writer

The shouts of “traitor” that rained on Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham last week at a local town hall meeting revealed rifts among conservatives that some analysts say may signal trouble for center-right politicians such as Graham.

Political experts say a burgeoning group of right-wing activists long seen as the fringe of the party is growing in influence, fueled by economic fears and populist ire over Washington spending and magnified by the power of the Internet.

Whether they represent a vocal minority or the seeds of a serious election challenge for Graham remains to be seen, though at least one Republican consultant believes the state’s senior senator has “real problems” outside of just a raucous town hall meeting.

“If he were running right now, he’d be in serious trouble,” said Dave Woodard, a Clemson University political science professor and former campaign manager for Graham who said he has Upstate polling to support his view.

Graham, re-elected last year to another six-year term, flatly rejected that idea, describing the crowd at his town hall meeting this week as 40 percent Constitution Party members who themselves are about to spark a “backlash” because of the recent visibility of their “radical” views.

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20091018/NEWS/910180...