Lindsey Graham Suspends 2016 Presidential Bid: BREAKING (VIDEO, TWEETS)

Republican presidential candidate Lindsey Graham is suspending his bid for the White House, the South Carolina senator announced Monday.

"I'm going to suspend my campaign. I'm not going to suspend my desire to help the country," Graham told CNN, adding, "I've hit a wall here."

"I must suspend my campaign," said Graham, according to ABC. "I'm not going to suspend my desire to help the country. I'll probably go back to Iraq and Afghanistan and get another update. Thirty-six trips has informed me. But the one thing I feel really good about is I did it with a smile on my face. I talked about things that are important to me and somebody better fix one day."

Graham's announcement came on the same day as the deadline to remove his name from the ballot of his home state of South Carolina, Politico noted. It was expected that Graham would want to avoid embarrassment among his senatorial constituency.

Graham took to Twitter to express his gratitude for the support he did receive and post a video message, in which he explained what he accomplished during the Republican primary season.

"I have offered a detailed plan to win a war we cannot afford to lose and to turn back the tide of isolationism that has been rising in the Republican Party," Graham said in a statement, according to The New York Times.

"This has been a problem solvers’ campaign. I have tried to be honest with the American people, look for realistic ways to get things done, and inject a little humor along the way," Graham said in the video. "Most importantly, the centerpiece of my campaign has been securing our nation. I have offered a detailed plan to win a war we cannot afford to lose and to turn back the tide of isolationism that has been rising in the Republican Party."

Tags

2016 presidential election, Republican Party, GOP, South carolina