Graham: Trump has declared ‘war on Islam itself’

by Ben Kamisar - 12/15/15 6:55 PM ET

Sen. Lindsey Graham bashed GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s recent call to ban Muslim immigrants, telling the audience at CNN’s GOP undercard debate that it plays right into the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’s plan.

{mosads}”‘This is a religious war between radical Islam and the rest of the war and there’s only way you can win this war: help people in Islam who reject radical Islam,” the South Carolina senator said.

“Donald Trump has done the one single thing you cannot do: Declare war on Islam itself. ISIL would be dancing in the streets but they don’t believe in dancing.”

CNN’s undercard debate features Graham, former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), former New York Gov. George Pataki and former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.). All of the candidates failed to muster at least a 3.5 percent average in national polls or a 4 percent average in polls in Iowa or New Hampshire.

Santorum, Pataki and Graham have been mainstays on the undercard debate stage, while Huckabee is appearing for the second time in a row after spending the beginning of the campaign on the main stage.

Tags Donald Trump GOP debate Lindsey Graham