ISSUE: Sen. Lindsey Graham

OUR VIEW: Opposition unlikely to topple S.C. senator

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has maintained from the time he took over for Sen. Strom Thurmond that he'd be willing to take on tough issues. He promised to be no one's "yes man." He's lived up to the promise - and could pay a political price for it.

Just as U.S. Sen. John McCain is suffering politically for unpopular stands on the Iraq war and immigration, Graham, one of his primary supporters, is hurting, too. Even in South Carolina.

Once thought to be politically untouchable here, Graham has been feeling the heat for his leading role as a supporter of Senate compromise legislation on immigration that many proclaimed to be little more than an amnesty bill.

With fellow S.C. Republican Sen. Jim DeMint as one of the leading opponents of the legislation, the Graham stand became all the more obvious. And controversial in a conservative state that if anything would be less favorable toward illegal immigration than the nation as a whole. Polls show nearly 80 percent of people want more border enforcement, punishment for businesses that hire illegals and renewed efforts to make illegals go back from where they came.

The immigration issue has some little-known candidates lining up to oppose Graham in 2008. And there is even talk by the likes of former Congressman and lieutenant governor candidate Tommy Hartnett that he may run to prevent Graham from getting "a free ride.''

Give the senator credit. He knew the immigration bill would be controversial, but he's realistic. Americans may not want amnesty for illegal aliens, but there clearly is no way to send all illegals home. It's just not going to happen. And until our nation begins enforcing the immigration laws on the books now, we're going to continue getting more and more illegals. Something must be done - with states taking the lead if Uncle Sam can't and won't.

In the meantime, Graham's conservative credentials also have been questioned by his being an acknowledged member of the group of Senate moderates who helped fashion compromise on federal judgeships. He has been known to buck the White House in a number of instances, even though he now is a key ally on the war in Iraq as he was on immigration.

Graham has said: "I've never been job-scared. I've always tried to be the best senator or congressman I could be, understanding that somebody's got to tackle the hard things. My biggest fear is to let people down by avoiding the tough issues."

The likes of S.C. Board of Economic Advisors Chairman John S. Rainey has written of Graham's efforts: "What is needed in our political system today are leaders who will face our difficult national and state problems with open minds and who will search creatively and collectively for workable solutions. We gain nothing by rigidity and acrimony, and lose miserably when we forget that government is not about winning and losing or establishing one favored philosophy over another, but about governing.''

Bottom line: Lindsey Graham has stood on principle and in the name of a government that can function by fashioning compromise. That is unpopular with some, but will likely not result in South Carolina voters changing their minds on having him in Washington. Look for the senator to be re-elected.

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