Sen. Graham not quite ready to endorse Stephen Colbert

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is not jumping on the Colbert-for-Senate bandwagon.

While a poll earlier this week by the Democratic Public Policy Polling showed Stephen Colbert is the top choice among South Carolina voters to replace the resigning Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), a fellow senator in the Palmetto State delegation doesn’t sound so psyched.

When asked by ITK whether the “Colbert Report” host and faux pundit, 48, would fit in among members of the upper chamber, Graham said after a long pause, “We don’t have a comedy deficit in the Senate.”

Graham, who is up for reelection in 2014, added, “I don’t think a comedian in the Senate is what we need right now. But, probably, you know, he’s a funny guy. He’s from South Carolina. But I don’t see that happening.”

But Graham seemed to have a change of heart as he continued to consider Colbert as a potential comedic colleague, saying, “But you know what? Anybody that can make us laugh might lead to better dealmaking.”

Of course, a comedian in the Senate is nothing new  — Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) yukked it up for years as a “Saturday Night Live” cast member. Franken’s office didn’t return a request for comment about how Colbert would fare at the Capitol.

However, at least one lawmaker is supportive of the idea. “I think he would be a very valued member in many respects in that he seems to know everything about us. So he wouldn’t have any trouble fitting in,” Sen. John McCain deadpanned. 

When we inquired as to what the Arizona Republican might teach Colbert in order to show him the ropes, McCain, without missing a beat, said to laughs from reporters, “How to shut up.”