Arizona Sen. John McCain said Tuesday that he wants South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham — whom he jokingly referred to as his “illegitimate son” — to run for president in 2016.
“My illegitimate son Lindsey Graham is exploring that option,” McCain said a Capitol Hill news conference, eliciting laughter from reporters.
“So I am strongly encouraging Sen. Lindsey Graham, particularly with the world the way it is today,” the 2008 Republican nominee said. “No one understands the world today in the way that Lindsey Graham does, in my view.”
The hawkish Graham suggested earlier this year that he may run for president in order to make sure his views on foreign policy are represented.
“If nobody steps up in the presidential mix, if nobody’s out there talking — me and McCain have been talking — I may just jump in to get to make these arguments,” Graham said.