Republican Lindsey Graham continues to make foreign policy a centerpiece of his presidential campaign - and one of the issues he's speaking most about is the Obama Administration's effort to reach a deal over Iran's nuclear program.
Speaking Sunday in Hooksett, Graham said the U.S. was "about to enter into a deal that I think's a nightmare" and said any agreement should require more from Tehran before lifting any economic sanctions.
“If it doesn’t require anytime-anywhere inspections, if it doesn’t require Iran to change their behavior before we lift inspections, if it gives them a dime before they change their behavior I’m going to vote against it and try to kill it," he said.
Graham is emphasizing his foreign policy experience and judgment in his presidential campaign. He says the US needs to be willing to do more, including sending American troops, to directly confront threats like the so-called Islamic State and to stabilize Iraq and Syria.
In his Hooksett stop, Graham also brought up immigration, describing himself as a lawmaker who's studied the issue for over a decade in an attempt to write a comprehensive overhaul that could pass through Congress. Responding to recent comments from fellow candidate Donald Trump emphasizing potential dangers posed by undocumented immigrants, Graham said illegal immigration stems largely from poverty and corruption in other countries.
“I think most of them are decent, hardworking people trying to improve their lives," he said. "Our job is to create order out of chaos, and there’s some bad people among them. I reject what Mr. Trump said about illegal immigrants because I know better.”
Graham said he would address the root causes of illegal immigration while further enhancing border security. He said undocumented individuals with no criminal history could stay in the country under certain conditions, such as learning English and paying back taxes.
Graham also lauded the New Hampshire presidential primary, calling it an "antidote" to the influence of big campaign contributions and campaign soundbites on national news broadcasts. "Oh my God," he said, "please don't let the soundbite replace New Hampshire."
