Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned on Sunday that Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is putting the party at risk of breaking apart.
{mosads}In a radio interview with John Catsimatidis, the former presidential candidate explained his reasoning for backing Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, someone he has butted heads with in the past.
“I’m supporting Cruz because I think he is a reliable conservative; I think the election will be much more competitive with Ted Cruz,” he said. “The people of New York voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump in the Republican primary — I respect that.
“I have never been more worried about the Republican Party breaking apart than I am today.”
Graham said the silver lining of Trump’s rise is that it means people are tired of “big-government liberalism.”
“What we have to do as Republicans is offer an alternative that’s common sense, that people can understand, that’s hopeful and optimistic, not hateful,” he said. “I pray the Republican Party can nominate somebody that can beat [Democratic presidential front-runner] Hillary Clinton, because if she wins we’re going to have a third term of Barack Obama.”