The Rev. Franklin Graham said Wednesday that while his
recent announcement that he was leaving the Republican Party was tied to the passage of a $1.1 trillion budget deal that continued funding for Planned Parenthood, he also doesn't want to be tied to one party while he pushes for prayer for the nation.
Graham will be starting a tour of state capitals on January 5 where he will hold prayer meetings on the capitol steps, and he doesn't want people to think the effort only involves Republicans, Graham said Wednesday on Fox News Channel's
"On the Record with Greta Van Susteren."
"I am so disappointed in just the leadership of both parties. Our nation is in trouble, and it's in a mess,' Graham said. "I felt it was best for me and not to be aligned with either party but to be an independent.
The effort isn't partisan, but an effort to get all people to pray for the nation, he said.
Graham will begin the effort January 5 in Des Moines, Iowa, home state to the nation's first caucuses.
Some Republicans may be unhappy with his exit, Graham acknowledged, but added he has no agenda to lead a mass exodus from party.
"I'm not here to hurt the Republican Party [or] the Democrats," he said. "I want to stand on capitol steps, and I want to lead this nation state by state, praying for our politicians, but praying for our country that God would give us politicians who will stand for biblical values and vote for biblical values."