NEW YORK: Senator Lindsay Graham, one of the 16 contenders for the Republican Party’s presidential ticket, has described his rival Donald Trump as a “political car wreck”.

In an interview with CNN’s “The Situation Room “, Mr Graham said:

“I think Donald Trump is a political car wreck. People slow down and look at the wreck, but they eventually move on. I believe when it comes to winning a national election as a Republican, Donald Trump is not the pathway forward.”

Trump released Graham’s personal cell-phone number at a political rally in South Carolina on Wednesday so that people could speak to him about their complaints.

Known around Washington for his flip-phone, Graham confirmed to CNN that it was his personal number, and that thanks to Mr Trump, he was now moving forward into “advanced technology”.

Graham also answered questions regarding a feud which erupted between the two campaigns after Graham called Trump a “jackass” in an interview earlier this week for saying that Senator John McCain, a veteran of the Vietnam war, was “not a war hero”.

“He is a war hero because he was captured,” Trump added sarcastically.

“I like people that weren’t captured, OK? I hate to tell you. He is a war hero because he was captured,” Donald Trump added.

Lindsay Graham, a close friend of McCain’s, said he woudn’t let Trump’s disparagement go unanswered.

“It’s really not about me and Donald. It’s about what Mr Trump said about 11 million illegal immigrants that I find offensive and not true,” Graham said.

Asked about his opinion on Trump’s chances of winning against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, Graham said: “I think the worst possible outcome for the Republican Party would be to put someone in the ring with Hillary Clinton. That would have a snowball’s chance in hell, and that would be Mr Trump”.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2015

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