Senator and Presidential hopeful Lindsey Graham told CNN that Trump's anti-Mexican rant is killing the GOP. Graham has a history with The Donald, who helped him to be elected before, but said even though Trump has done wonderful things, his remarks about illegal immigrants is destroying the GOP's chances at taking back the White House:
Graham: Well, I think he said something that has brought people who hare frustrated about immigration system to life, but he also said it in a way that's going to kill my party.
Here's the problem with the Republican Party nationally. We're getting 27% of the Hispanic vote, we're getting less than 10% of the African American vote and about 25-26% of the Asian vote. You'll never convince me that we've gone from 44% of the Hispanic vote, now down to 27 if it were not for the rhetoric around the immigration debate. This is a moment for the party...
When most illegal immigrants were rapists and drug dealers and there may be some among them who were good, that is reinforcing a narrative between the Republican party and the Hispanic community that is going to destroy our ability win a presidential election. And the part needs to be clear on how we handle this.
it's not only rhetoric that's destroying Republicans' chances with Hispanics, it's their actions. Do you remember the Sensenbrenner bill, also known as the Border Protection, Anti-terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 that criminalized illegal immigrants? That's when. That action triggered the rift between Hispanic voters and the GOP.
When asked why Trump is beating him in the polls, Graham replied that national polls are skewed toward national figures and bigger state politicians rather than towards smaller states early in the political process, which hurts many politicians as the election just begins.