U.S. attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch's confirmation could hang on just one vote, but Sen. Lindsey Graham thinks she'll squeak through in the end.
"I think we're going to pick up a couple more," the South Carolina Republican tells
the Huffington Post, adding "I hope not" when asked if Vice President Joe Biden might have to step in as the tie-breaker.
Just four GOP senators publicly support Lynch so far: Graham, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Susan Collins of Maine, the Huffington Post reports.
If all 44 Democrats and the two independents cast "yes" votes, along with four GOP votes in favor, Lynch would have a 50-50 tally. She'd need one more Republican to secure the nomination.
According to the Huffington Post, Graham is incensed so many of his party oppose Lynch because she believes President Barack Obama acted legally in issuing executive orders shielding some undocumented immigrants from deportation – including his good friend, Arizona Republican
Sen. John McCain.
"This, to me, is a sign of the dysfunction of this place," Graham tells the Huffington Post. "She's qualified. Their frustration with the executive order, I share. I'd rather fight this in court."
Graham also sees the irony in a Lynch rejection that would leave in place current Attorney General
Eric Holder, who's also been pilloried by many Republicans.
"Keeping Holder on, I think that would be corrosive," Graham said. "I think we need a fresh face."
Lynch was nominated in November, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is
delaying her nomination until the Senate passes an unrelated – and stalled – human trafficking bill.
If ultimately confirmed, Lynch would make history as the first African-American female U.S. attorney general.
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