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.

In 2004, the parties were even, with 37 percent of likely voters registered as Democrats and 37 percent Republicans.

Today, however, Republicans have dropped to 29 percent while Democrats remain at 37 percent.

Graham explained that "the independent voter will decide the election... So we have to make our case to the independent voter that John McCain is truly an independent, stood up to his own party, will keep your taxes low, and rein Washington spending in, and I think that's a winning message for us."

As McCain and Palin raise concerns over the prospect of having Democrats in control of the entire government, Emanuel, the Democratic Caucus chair, weighed in on the argument over divided government.

ABC News polling shows Independents would prefer to have Republicans in control of Congress and a divided government, but Emanuel explained "this is a party that for six years run up the largest national debt, $4 trillion, under a Republican watch. When you had a Democratic president, we balanced the budget. The records are clear."

"The warning is to make sure you stay to your knitting and focus on the challenges facing this country and the middle-class families," he added.

"Reforming energy to make sure you have independence and alternatives. Reforming health care to make sure you have cost control and expanded coverage. Reforming taxes so it's simple and fair. Reforming regulatory oversight for the financial sector to make sure you have transparency and accountability."

Finally, Emanuel fended off rumors that he would be in interested in an Obama White House chief of staff position.

"First of all, you've got a big if there. And second of all, let me say this, because we've got a lot of work to do in the next nine days communicating to the American people... I'm looking forward to representing the people of the North Side of the city of Chicago."

He also joked that "six years ago, the people on the North Side of Chicago took a bet on a young kid... Now I've got gray hair, and I started this at 6'2'' and 250 pounds, and that's all I got left."