Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) today denied that the Trump campaign asked him to visit Nebraska yesterday, NBC News reported, insisting he was sent by Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Gov. Jim Pillen to discuss foreign policy.
“Senator Ricketts and the governor have asked me to come to the caucus – I guess that’s what they call it – and talk about the state of the world and the foreign policy implications of the next election,” Graham told NBC News.
NBC reported yesterday that Graham was there as an “emissary” of the Trump campaign to discuss how the state allocates electoral votes. When asked by NBC News, Graham again denied this. News of the meeting was previously reported by KOLN-TV.
The senator confirmed to NBC News that the Nebraska delegation had asked him to discuss the division of electoral votes in the state, but said that was not the topic he was originally sent to discuss. Trump supports moving the state to a winner-take-all system, which Graham said he agrees with.
“I hope they allow winner-takes-all,” Graham said. “Apparently the delegation last night, the congressmen and the two senators pushed for the change. It’s up to Nebraska, we’ll see what they do.”
Ricketts also said he encouraged Graham to come. However, he did not comment on the Trump campaign’s involvement. When asked why he invited Graham, he said, “I think Senator Graham is a great spokesperson for this. He knows very well why we need to make sure all of our voters have the opportunity to have their voices heard and what the other states are doing.”
In an interview with NBC News, Ricketts said he and Pillen specifically asked the South Carolina senator to speak with their state’s representatives about the distribution of electoral votes. He called Graham a “great spokesman” for the winner-take-all strategy.
“He knows exactly why we need to ensure that all of our voters have the opportunity to voice their voices and what the other states are doing,” he said.
Pillen’s office and the Trump campaign did not respond to NBC News’ request for comment.
