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Is Lara Trump 'future of Republican Party'? Lindsey Graham mocked for endorsing her as North Carolina senator

Referring to Lara Trump as 'Laura', Graham said she was the 'biggest winner' in 'this whole impeachment trial' after North Carolina GOP Senator Richard Burr voted to convict Donald Trump

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) raised eyebrows on Sunday, February 14, when he promoted former President Donald J Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump as a hot candidate for the North Carolina senator's post.

Referring to Lara Trump as "Laura", Graham said she was the "biggest winner" in "this whole impeachment trial". His comments came after North Carolina GOP Senator Richard Burr joined six other GOP senators in voting to convict Trump on Saturday, February 13, saying the former president “violated his oath of office” by making claims of widespread election fraud and “directed his supporters” to “disrupt lawful proceedings” at the Capitol on January 6.

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Burr “just made Lara Trump almost the certain nominee for the Senate seat in North Carolina to replace him... And I certainly would be behind her because I think she represents the future of the Republican Party,” Graham declared. It's worth noting that Burr plans to retire when his term ends in 2022.

In November, The New York Times reported that 38-year-old Lara had told some of her associates that she was considering a run for the Senate from North Carolina, her home state, in 2022. 

Lara already has a number of prominent backers, apart from Graham. Former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who stepped down months before the November 3 election that Trump lost to Joe Biden, told the Times that Lara would be formidable. 

“She has the trifecta: She can raise money, raise awareness of key issues and raise attention to her race. Unlike many typical politicians, she connects with people and is a compelling messenger,” Conway, who ran Trump’s successful presidential campaign in 2016, said. 

Another Trump aide Mercedes Schlapp also backed Lara’s idea of running for the Senate seat. She called the latter charismatic and held that she has a natural instinct for politics. “In North Carolina, in particular, she's a household name and people know her. She worked really hard on the campaign and was very involved in a lot of decisions throughout,” Schlapp said to the Times in November.

Nonetheless, anti-Trump Twitteratti pounced at Graham for his endorsement of Lara Trump and mocked the latter for her supposed inexperience in politics. "Imagine endorsing Lara Trump for the Senate. Her biggest accomplishment? Keeping Eric Trump from eating his dad's crayons," filmmaker Jeremy Newberger tweeted.

"The best thing the GOP can do to help Dems keep and expand margin in the Senate is nominate @LaraLeaTrump in NC. Please and thank you," author Bakari Sellers added. "If Lara Trump is the ‘future’ of the Republican Party...God help us! She married goofy Eric for status (which is a joke). That tells what her mentality is. @LindseyGrahamSC #Accountability," another user chimed in.

"With a serious look on his face, Lindsey Graham said today that 'Lara Trump represents the future of the Republican Party.' I have to say i agree. Adios, GQP!" a user quipped. "There should be some qualifications met before a person can run. Reside in state for x years, have some experience at something other than just marrying a Trump, a knowledge of the Constitution, etc," a user added.