In yet another sign of just how badly Lindsey Graham is (possibly) fucking this up for the GOP in the closing stretch before the midterms, Republican Nevada governor candidate Joe Lombardo told a crowd of fans Thursday he would “fight” against Graham’s proposed national ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, the AP reports. “It’s the vote of the people within the state of Nevada, and I will support that. That is an issue that doesn’t need to be in politics,” said Lombardo, as if the GOP did not put the issue in politics by confirming pro-forced birth justices to the Supreme Court.

All this being said, we have to consider Lindsey Graham’s push for a national 15-week ban is actually kind of tactically shrewd in a way, if still a desperate break-the-glass move. If the math to get to 50% + 1 of the vote in a blue but tight state like Nevada means Lombardo has to piss off some extremists to reach independents who are pro-choice but would otherwise be receptive to the economy song and dance, then it makes makes sense. Lindsey’s taking the flak for what a dickheads like Charlie Kirk think is bad timing – even calling it “election interference” because God forbid a leading Republican be (relatively) honest and forthright with voters.

But as you can see right here he’s also giving Lombardo and other Republican candidates room to differentiate themselves from the party itself. Never mind this asshole would happily abide a national 15-week ban if still in office in 2025, which is the earliest possible year one could be implemented, the point is to just help him and others get elected. If they lose the 15% of hardcore MAGA voters in their states but gain 20% of pro-choice moderates then that’s 5% more votes they would’ve had. Time will tell if it’ll actually work – and our guess is probably not given the momentum Dems have on the issue, but having considered it further after seeing Lombardo using it to try to sell a moderate stance, we see how it can be used to help the GOP on the margins.