US Senator Lindsey Graham. Photo: Wiki Commons.

After months of a campaign that failed to catch fire with the general public, US Senator Lindsey Graham has suspended his presidential campaign. Despite the general lack of enthusiasm for Graham’s campaign, he did earn the consistent support of various Jewish leaders and activists, most notably LA-based businessman Robert Rechnitz who was a constant presence in Graham’s orbit and helped bankroll several of his key fundraisers.

Senator Graham goes back to the Senate as one of its most powerful members, chairing several key sub-committees, including the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, which funds all US assistance to the state of Israel, as well as chairing Armed Services and Judiciary sub-committees related to terrorism and national security.

Rechnitz said:

The country owes him a great debt of gratitude for his service. He didn’t always follow the party line, he follow[ed] his conscience, common sense, and true values. I believe that had he won the nomination, there would have been a lot of ‘Graham Democrats’ — something we haven’t had since Reagan. He has the respect of the entire Senate and I’m sure he’ll continue to be a strong supporter of Israel — as he was with passing the second tranche of $235 million for the Iron Dome legislation which would not have been approved otherwise before the summer break in 2013.

He goes back to the Senate as the senior man on foreign policy and also as the Senator who is in charge of funding the United Nations. His influence will continue to be felt for many years to come and our country in good hands because of him, whether the next president is a Democrat or a Republican. I have no question that he took this Republican presidential race to a higher standard and certainly brought the issue of foreign policy to the forefront of the conversation.