THE OTHER LINDS Graham
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More than anything, Republican presidential candidates need a veep with some conservative gravitas.

Consider the current Republican front-runners for 2008: a freewheeling former POW who can't raise money and likely wanted most of all to join John Kerry's ticket in 2004, a Mormon from Massachusetts, the thrice-married former mayor of New York City, and the trophy-wife collecting star of Baby's Day Out.

Enter Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a glib former JAG lawyer from the deep South who many conservatives feel brings old-fashioned Southern conservative flavor to the presidential race. Rush Limbaugh, in fact, has gone so far as to refer to Graham as "Vice President Lindsey Graham" when he discusses him on air. Beltway insiders, too, think Graham might make an intriguing addition to the ticket. "[Graham] will get a very serious look from McCain, Romney, and Giuliani, especially if somebody like Edwards or Obama gets the nomination for the Democrats. Both of those guys could make inroads in the South, and a guy like Graham could maybe help stop that," says one insider.

There's only one problem: Graham is not particularly popular with hard-line conservatives.

Sure he supports the troop surge and was House manager of Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, but Graham has infuriated the right for working with Democrats on issues like immigration [sub req.] and protecting the Congressional filibuster. Last summer, conservative senators Tom Coburn and Rick Santorum were overheard referring to Graham as a "RINO" (Republican In Name Only) in a Senate trolley on the way back from a vote.

Some even speculate that Graham's ill-placed support for immigration overhaul may inspire other to challenge any bid he might make for VP.

One savvy operative explained Graham's challenge with an analogy from everybody's favorite cult TV series. "You know that bit on Arrested Development where Jason Bateman would always squint up his nose and say 'Her?' in this really depressed voice when his son talked about his girlfriend?" the operative asked. "That's how Republicans feel when Graham's name gets mentioned, either as a candidate for higher office, or replacing [Alberto] Gonzalez [as Attorney General]. 'Him'? There's nothing really wrong with him, but the fact he's even being considered is indicative of how short their bench really is."