Lindsey Graham calls Neera Tanden a ‘nut job’ as Republicans report confirmation battle

Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) on Monday called on President-elect Joe Biden’s candidate for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as he urged voters to help Republicans retain control of the Senate by winning the crucial Georgia second-round elections.

Graham made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News Hannity. The senator denounced Biden’s OMB candidate Neera Tanden, a former Obama administration official who now heads the left-wing think tank Center for American Progress, while admitting that the prospect of two Democratic victories in Georgia “scares him”.

“If we win both seats in Georgia, I will be the budget chair,” Graham said. “The OMB director is due to appear before the budget committee for the hearings to be confirmed. I think I would ask different questions than Bernie Sanders, who would be the budget chairman if the Democrats won in Georgia.”

“If you want to make sure that crazy Tanden doesn’t become the budget manager, in charge of the Bureau of Management and Budget, then make sure we win in Georgia,” Graham added.

Republicans have already signaled they could block Tanden’s confirmation. There is a chance that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could even refuse to allow his nomination to pass. Ahead of his Fox News appearance on Monday, Graham said Tanden would face a “tough” battle to be confirmed.

Tanden’s past critiques of the Trump administration and Senate Republicans have made him a particularly controversial choice for a prominent role in the new Biden administration. As a notorious opponent of Medicare for All and critic of Senator Bernie Sanders, she also faces opposition from some members of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

Republicans only need to win one of the two Senate seats disputed in Georgia on Jan.5 to retain control of the upper house. Polls suggest incumbent GOP Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are both stuck in close races with Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

If the Democratic candidates won both seats, the Senate would be split 50-50. However, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would hold the power to sever all ties, giving the party full control of Congress in addition to the White House.

Although Graham’s discussion on Fox News appears to be based on the assumption that Biden would take office after President Donald Trump left, the senator has also been a prominent voice reinforcing the president’s unverified claims about an election. ” stolen “. Graham urged Trump to attend Biden’s inauguration on Jan.20 if the president-elect “ends up winning” on Monday.

Newsweek has contacted Biden’s transition team for comment.