In the wake of Sen. Lindsey Graham revoking his endorsement of Donald Trump and David French surrendering before even running, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol is now encouraging Graham to resume his run for president.
In an interview with NBC on Tuesday, Graham said that he couldn’t vote for Trump due to the presumptive Republican nominee’s comments about the judge — Gonzalo Curiel — who is overseeing the Trump university case. Graham also said that he couldn’t vote for Hillary Clinton either. At this time, Graham is not sure who he would write in as an alternative.
MORE: Lindsey Graham says he can’t vote for Trump and can’t vote for Clinton either; will write in a candidate, but isn’t sure who yet
— Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) June 7, 2016
Kristol, upon hearing the news, responded to NBC’s Hallie Jackson on Twitter saying, “Easier for Lindsey just to run, would give us all someone to vote for. And the way things are going, he might win.”
Easier for Lindsey just to run, would give us all someone to vote for. And the way things are going, he might win. https://t.co/dbJIdf44kL
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 7, 2016
The conservative writer has also encouraged Mitt Romney and Carly Fiorina to run against Trump and Clinton.
.@DavidAFrench performed a service by helping show a path exists. Now it’s up to @MittRomney, @CarlyFiorina, @LindseyGrahamSC, et al.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 7, 2016
It is worth noting that Graham dropped out of the presidential race prior to his home state of South Carolina’s deadline to remove your name from the ballot. According to Real Clear Politics, at the time of him dropping out of the presidential race, he polled nationally at .5 percent.
French, whom Kristol previously attempted to woo for president wrote, turned down the request writing, “After days of prayer, reflection, and serious study of the possibilities, I am not going to run as an independent candidate for president of the United States.” (RELATED: David French Says He Won’t Run For President)
Another potential roadblock facing Kristol’s courtship of Graham is the fact the Republican presidential candidates agreed to support the GOP nominee by not running a third party campaign. (RELATED: Revealed: The Person Bill Kristol Is Pushing To Enter The Presidential Race)