Tea Party-backed senator refuses to endorse GOP colleague for reelection

When asked if he'd support a fellow GOPer up for reelection, South Carolina's Tim Scott dodges the question

Published November 21, 2013 5:15PM (EST)

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, a Tea Party favorite, refused on Wednesday to publicly support fellow South Carolinian Sen. Lindsey Graham in the latter's bid for reelection.

During his appearance on CNN's "Crossfire," Scott was asked by host Van Jones whether he'd support Graham.

Scott demurred, saying only, "I’m certainly going to work really hard for Tim Scott reelection" and that he'd "allow for all the other folks on the ballot to represent themselves very well."

While Graham and company are likely disappointed in Scott's answer, it's unlikely that it came to them as a surprise. Graham is frequently called a RINO (Republican in name only) by many far-right GOP activists who hold antipathy toward the senator for his relatively moderate views on immigration reform and his general willingness to work across the aisle.

Watch Scott's appearance on CNN below:


By Elias Isquith

Elias Isquith is a former Salon staff writer.

MORE FROM Elias Isquith


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Cnn Crossfire Lindsey Graham Rino South Carolina Tea Party Tim Scott Van Jones Video