Lindsey Graham has announced his bid to become president on the United States thereby joining George Pataki as the second candidate to run on the WFT?? platform.

[mc_name name=’Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’G000359′ ] of South Carolina on Monday returned to the neighborhood where he was raised and announced that he is running for president, injecting a hawkish foreign policy voice into a crowded field of Republican contenders.

Mr. Graham’s entry into the race comes a year after his political career appeared briefly to be on the ropes, when Tea Party conservatives targeted him as a moderate to be ousted in the midterm election.

After fending off that challenge with ease, Mr. Graham, 59, has said his fear that the world is “falling apart” inspired him to run for the White House. He will try to convince voters that a platform of pragmatism at home and “security through strength” abroad is the formula that gives Republicans the best chance to beat Hillary Rodham Clinton if she becomes the Democratic nominee.

“I want to be president to protect our nation that we all love so much from all threats foreign and domestic,” he told the crowd assembled in his hometown. “So get ready. I know I’m ready.”

At least Herman Cain ran on Pizza 9-9-9. For the life of me I can’t figure out what constituency Graham hopes to appeal to. My best guess it that he figures he can draw the same voters that supported [mc_name name=’Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’M000303′ ] in 2000.

Graham joins Pataki and, increasingly [mc_name name=’Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’P000603′ ], as the candidates using their alleged campaigns for president as a fundraising gimmick and a way of raising their national profile. It is a shame Graham, who, once in a blue moon, can be a useful senator, has chosen to beclown himself in this way at this very critical time in America’s history.