“Being charged with a crime is a big deal,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). “He needs to be able to have his day in court like everyone else.”

Asked if Stevens should resign, Graham said, “if you have a dark cloud over you, I just don’t feel comfortable telling someone what to do. (But) I don’t subscribe to the notion that you have to give up your career.”

Most of the folks in Congress continue to shake hands and slap Stevens on the back, their only concern being how it will affect their positions on important committees. Is there no one willing to actually call out the folks in our party who continue to screw over the America taxpayer, even when they get caught with their pants down?

It’s either Graham or a Ron Paul Democrat in Bob Conley. Both call themselves conservative (strangely the Democrat is actually farther to the right on most issues). So do you go with the incumbent who called those that want our laws enforced “bigots” (in front of a group called “The Race”), or do you go with the challenger who thinks our troops in Iraq are occupiers. Decisions, decisions….

Here are the numbers:

Lindsey Graham 52
Bob Conley 21
Mark McBride 10

Lindsey Graham 54
Bob Conley 32

You can see the full results here.

Although, this may actually be a better scenario for Conley than Graham, since he would have likely split the anti-Graham vote with McBride. In this topsy-turvy race, the key will now be how many Democrats will vote for the less conservative Republican candidate and how many disaffected Republicans will vote for the conservative Democrat.

Graham may still steamroll Conley, but I’m hoping for at least a few fun stories in an otherwise depressing election year.

Our boy Lindsey ranks in at #7 and was tied with…. Larry Craig.

There is already a Michelle Obama fundraiser in the works and if polling begins to look better, we could see a lot more cash and a bit more focus from Barack himself on South Carolina.  A solidly red SC won’t likely see a huge turnaround. However, with a possible historic turnout for black voters and an energized Democratic party, it may be a difference for Republican candidates like Graham that don’t have their base completely behind them.

Conley is a Ron Paul Democrat and says a lot of things that a conservative Republican would like. Like Ron Paul, it’s when he starts talking about “occupation” in Iraq that the dissappointment sets in for some.  Like Mark McBride, he’s a long shot to upset Lindsey. The questions now are whether he’ll be able to attract more disaffected Republicans than McBride and whether Obama’s long coat tails in SC will get him within reach of a win. Either way, this should turn out to be an interesting race, particularly with Lindsey being forced to say things like this: “From what I can tell, he doesn’t represent moderation. I represent a brand of conservatism that you will feel comfortable with.”