Senate

Graham: McCain ‘dying to get back’

by Rebecca Savransky - 07/18/17 8:13 AM ET

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) wants to get back to Washington and is acting like his old self again after surgery.

“He sounded like a different person. He clearly was a hurting guy,” Graham told CNN.

“I think they relieved the pressure, and he sounded like the old John McCain, dying to get back and talking about driving across the country. I said, ‘No.’ “

{mosads}Graham said the doctors don’t want McCain to fly for a week following the surgery.

“He’s got to heal up or he’ll take a step backwards,” Graham said. “I think they don’t want him to fly for a week. But I think he would walk back if they’d let him. … He’s dying to get back, and for the sake of his family I hope he doesn’t have to stay there over a week.”

Graham also said he’s not sure whether McCain would be back in the Senate by next week.

“If it were up to him, he’d be on his way now,” he said. “But he … for once in his life, listen to his doctors. … He’s been hit pretty hard, so it’s going to take a while.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced last weekend that consideration of the Senate GOP’s healthcare bill would be delayed while McCain recovers from surgery.

On Monday night, two additional GOP senators announced they would not support the healthcare bill, effectively blocking the legislation.

McCain said in a statement Monday that Congress should “return to regular order” to craft a replacement for ObamaCare.

Tags John McCain Lindsey Graham Mitch McConnell