Graham Says Trump Still Popular With Republicans | Eastern North Carolina Now

Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the LifeZette. The author of this post is David Kamioner.

    Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said this weekend that the immediately former president is still very popular with the GOP rank and file, but will "have a place in history" for his role in the January 6th assault on the capitol.

    His first point is self-evident. There is not a poll to be seen that does not show Trump with at least a 70 percent approval rate amongst Republican voters. Did January 6th cost him Republican support? Yes. But 20 points tops, still keeping him firmly in control. Today.

    However as January 6th shows, one day in politics can change a lot. Whether Trump is still in the catbird seat in 2022 or 2024 remains to be seen. There are some, like Nikki Haley, who would appeal to a different Republican base than Trump. Others, like Tom Cotton, who would be popular with Trump voters. Might the party and its base decide to bypass the myriad headaches another Trump run would bring and go for Trumpism without Trump?

    As per history, fair historical renderings of January 6th have yet to be written because we're still neck deep in the passion of the moment. When tempers cool and bile subsides Trump undoubtedly will be blamed. To what degree is the question.

    Did he engage in legitimate free speech and his usual hyperbole that violent populists ran with, or did Trump intentionally jack up an angry crowd and tell them to take a walk to the capitol knowing full well their probable penchant for violence and mayhem? This analyst thinks the latter is correct. Other astute analysts disagree. But it is certain, for unfortunate hyperbole or incitement, perhaps both, Trump will shoulder a historical responsibility.

    FNC: "Former President Donald Trump will 'have a place in history' for his role leading up to the riot at the U.S. Capitol last month, but he stills remains the 'most popular figure' in the Republican Party, Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday. The South Carolina senator spoke on the impeachment effort against Trump on CBS' 'Face the Nation,' claiming that Republicans will view it as an 'unconstitutional exercise' and that any trial will result in Trump's acquittal."

    "Forty-five plus Republicans are going to vote early on that it's unconstitutional," Graham said. "It's not a question of how the trial ends. It's a question of when it ends." Graham said that the longer the trial takes, "the worse off for the country."

    "He had a consequential presidency," the senator said. "January the 6th was a very bad day for America, and he'll get his share of blame in history." Graham also said that Trump needs to "rehabilitate himself as a politician," and believes that the GOP will come "roaring back" in 2022 as a result of the Democratic Party's changes to immigration policy.