Graham focused on job

Senator not worried about challengers

SPARTANBURG - U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said he worries more about doing the best job than any challengers for his seat in 2008.

But he said he still lives by advice given to him by the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, whose seat he occupies: Always run like you're behind.

'I don't want to build a career around protecting myself,' Graham said. 'I'd like to build a career around leadership.'

One of Graham's biggest challengers from his own Republican Party might have had his political future ended last week. Plenty of dissatisfied Republicans wanted state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel to take on Graham in a primary in 2008, despite Ravenel's promise to finish his term, which ends in early 2011.

But Ravenel was indicted Tuesday on a charge of distribution of cocaine and suspended from office.

'It closes the door on Thomas Ravenel's chance of running against Senator Graham,' state GOP Chairman Katon Dawson said. 'Does it open anyone else's door? I don't know. Somebody might step up and run against the senator - certainly there's consternation out there.'

Graham has been criticized by people in his own party on several issues since he was elected to the Senate in 2002. The most recent fight is over immigration reform. Graham has supported a bill that opponents - such as South Carolina's other senator, Jim DeMint - decry as amnesty. Graham has heard the criticism and is not backing down.

'I've never been job-scared,' Graham said. '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.'

Spartanburg County Republican Party Chairman Rick Beltram said Graham's biggest threat in 2008 could come from a Democrat.

'I think all along Lindsey knew he was pretty safe. It's been regurgitated over and over ... and the only really strong one who could do anything was Ravenel,' Beltram said. 'Other than Ravenel, if they were going to have any serious attempt at it, a challenger would have to surface by now, because we're only 10 months out from the primary.'

And the right Democrat might get some support from unlikely people.

'We thought that (Graham) was going to be a great senator, but he has turned out, on immigration especially, to be very disappointing,' said Nora Olson of Spartanburg, a Republican. 'If anyone good and capable runs against him, I will vote for them - even if it's a Democrat ... if I have confidence they'll do a good job.'