Posted on Sun, Feb. 24, 2008
Taking on Lindsey Graham


U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, will seek re-election to the Senate for the first time this year.

A few challengers have emerged after a trying summer for Graham that saw many in his party disagree with him on a failed federal immigration reform bill.

Critics of the bill, which gave illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, derided it as amnesty and accused Graham of being too liberal for his party.

Things have been looking up for Graham of late.

He has amassed a $4 million war chest. And Graham was able to help his friend, U.S. Sen. John McCain, win the S.C. Republican presidential primary.

Here’s how the challenge to Graham is shaping up so far.

Who’s in

Dr. Buddy Witherspoon, a Lexington County orthodontist and Republican National committeeman

How he’s running: Witherspoon ran a series of ads on cable news outlets in South Carolina that showed footage of immigrants illegally crossing the U.S. border and a Spanish voiceover that said: “Gracias (thank you), Lindsey Graham.â€