Graham, Emanuel Debate Closing Arguments

Oct. 26, 2008 -- John McCain supporter Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Barack Obama supporter Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., responded this morning to a wave of Republican endorsements for Obama citing Gov. Sarah Palin as a negative for McCain.

"It's not a criticism of Sarah Palin, it's a criticism of John McCain," Emanuel said, explaining the "Palin Effect" in an exclusive "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" interview.

"[McCain] has had compulsive erratic behavior. Obama has shown the leadership America is working for. Obama has shown the qualities that the American people are looking for."

But Graham stood firm in his defense of Palin.

"Sarah has energized our base better than anybody we could have picked," he said.

Graham, who previously backed Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., for vice president, said, "She is being treated, I think, very poorly and unfairly...her accomplishments are real."

In the past week, Obama has gained the support of prominent Republicans from former Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell to Ronald Reagan's solicitor general, Charles Fried, to Ken Adelman, who worked for Ronald Reagan in arms control.

Graham and Emanuel also spoke out on Sen. Joe Biden's comments earlier in the week claiming Obama will be "tested" within the first six months of his presidency.

"You're going to be challenged every day for four years, 24/7," Emanuel explained. "And what also Joe Biden said is that Barack Obama has a spine of steel. You've seen it through his campaign. You've seen it in the way he handled the financial crisis, the way versus what John McCain showed, an impulsive behavior."

But Graham disagreed. "Spine of steel, that's a new one.... Senator Obama's domestic and international policies are ill-suited to the times... John McCain understands this world far better than Barack Obama understood Iraq, Iran and Russia. Senator Obama would be a very dangerous choice for president of the United States when it comes to foreign policy."

With nine days left till the election, Graham responded to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll showing that the GOP brand has taken a beating over the past four years.