Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has emerged as a major internal McCain campaign booster of Sen. Joe Lieberman's chances to be the vice presidential nominee, Republican sources said.
Graham has spearheaded an effort to gauge the precise damage that the selection of the pro-choice hawk would cause. He hopes to prove that the benefits would outweigh the drawbacks. Graham is one of McCain's closest friends.
A month ago, a senior adviser to Lieberman put his chances of appearing on the ticket as "less than two percent." Those odds have changed.
The very obvious trial balloons floated by McCain advisers have struck some Democrats and Republicans as a ruse in order to artificially depress expectations. Some campaign advisers agree, but others think that it is real.
The Politico's Jonathan Martin reports that Lieberman staffers appear to be conducting an internal vet.
Graham and Lieberman left yesterday to visit Georgia, Polard and the Ukraine.
A Graham spokesman did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment.
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