Graham considering run for presidency despite poor poll results

Are the odds really in South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham's favour? Citing his chances of winning his home state in the 2016 Republican primary, Graham said there was a "91 per cent" chance that he would enter the presidential race.

"If I didn't think I could win South Carolina, I wouldn't be talking to you," Graham said on Fox News on Sunday. "I just had a primary with six opponents, I won by 41 points. I've been elected numerous times in South Carolina. If I'm on the ballot, I'll win South Carolina."

A Winthrop poll of likely South Carolina voters released last week showed Graham receiving just 7.6 per cent of the vote and trailing Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (13.6 per cent), former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (12.7 per cent), and Texas Senator Ted Cruz (8.1 per cent).

More daunting for Graham, the poll found that 55 per cent of those polled in Graham's home state say they would not support him f he ran for the presidency.

At this weekend's First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit, With All Due Respect host Mark Halperin said Graham used his sense of humour to connect with voters.

"In full Catskills mode, including the usual Hillary Clinton funnies. This makes him darn likeable, but it hampers his ability to come off as the candidate of strength," Halperin wrote.