Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz illustrate extreme tensions within the Republican Party

By: Fiona Conway and Sophie Kim

(Sydney Hastings-Wilkins)

Lindsey Graham and his running mate, Ted Cruz, sat down with the Daily Direction to discuss their campaign and policy beliefs.

When Graham was asked if he was concerned that he was splitting the Republican vote he said he “doesn’t feel the need to respond to [those] claims because he is running as an Independent and the fact that Republicans agree with [Graham] more than Tim Scott is not [Graham’s] concern.”

However, a poll conducted by the Patriot News Network, the conservative broadcast station, found that Republicans do not agree more with Graham because Tim Scott was tied with Elizabeth Warren for 46% of the vote while Lindsey Graham only had 8%.

Graham has also called Tim Scott’s campaign, “weak” and that Scott is relying too much on his team during speeches and when answering questions from the press. Graham seemed personally upset when he revealed that Patriot News Network has not acknowledged his candidacy and is not willing to speak to him.

Graham continued to distance himself from Scott and the rest of his party by discussing the conflicts Graham has encountered with Scott in the Senate. Graham explains their unfortunate history, with Scott not pledging his support when Graham announced his presidential candidacy in the 2016 election.

Graham and Scott ended the interview, and then Graham sent Scott to return and tell the Daily Direction about their foreign policy stance.

Graham and Scott were set to have a foreign policy discussion this morning, but had to reschedule due to the presidential debate, which would capture all the media attention.