Graham: RNC couldn’t run ‘a one-car funeral’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Thursday that the Republican National Committee (RNC) is mismanaging its handling of the GOP presidential debates.

“The RNC is trying to correct the last cycle’s problems with too many debates,” he said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “They’ve overdone it, and they’re micromanaging the process.”

“You know, I don’t think the RNC could run a one-car funeral,” he added. “This is getting pretty bad.”

Graham argued that the way the debates are unfolding is harming the entire field of White House contenders.

“I think the Republican Party is becoming the loser here,” he said. “The process is not bringing out the best of the party. We’ve got talented candidates.”

Graham’s remarks follow a memorable showing in Wednesday night’s third undercard GOP presidential debate in Boulder, Colo.

He rattled off humorous one-liners while vowing that the GOP must defeat its Democratic counterparts next year.

“At the end of the day, folks, I am trying to solve a problem and win an election,” Graham said. “I’m tired of losing.”

“If we don’t beat these people, who the hell are we going to beat?” he asked of the Democratic presidential field. “Make me commander in chief and this crap stops.”

Graham then proposed Thursday that he is talented enough for the main stage of the next GOP presidential contest.

The Republican National Committee has scheduled that contest for Nov. 10 in Milwaukee live on Fox Business Network.

“I don’t think I’m an undercard candidate when it comes to national security or trying to fix problems like the debt,” Graham said.

“You know, the one thing I’m not going to do is give Obama-like promises,” he said.

“The RNC needs to up their game, guys,” Graham added. “We’ve got an embarrassment of riches. [They’re] hurting the process of picking a good Republican nominee, in my view.”

Former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said Wednesday evening that Graham belongs in the RNC’s next primetime debate.

Graham has polled at or below 1 percent across multiple national polls since launching his White House run last June.