{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=d1592f03-6d8b-46c6-9e27-cac21389c565", "STATEMENT BY SENATOR JOHN McCAIN ON SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM SUSPENDING PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN", "2015-12-21", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "John McCain", "M000303", "www.mccain.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement today on the announcement that Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has suspended his presidential campaign:\r\nWith Senator Lindsey Grahams announcement, Republicans lost our most qualified, thoughtful, fearless and honest presidential candidate, not to mention the candidate with the best (and it seemed sometimes the only) sense of humor. Despite the disadvantages he faced in resources and debate opportunities, Lindseys message of serious statesmanship and problem-solving in public affairs, his forthright opposition to policies and attitudes that would endanger our country and reflect poorly on our party, and his genuine decency and humility won him many new admirers.\r\nAs sorry as I am to see Lindseys candidacy end, I understand his reasons, and Im as proud of him as Ive ever been for his exemplary service to our party and our country. Lindseys friends and supporters take consolation in the assurance his voice will continue to be prominent in the U.S. Senate, where his message of inclusiveness, optimism, and forward-looking leadership will serve as a needed rebuttal to those who advocate a narrower and pessimistic vision for our party.\r\nIt is a pity that a bifurcated debate structure kept his voice and views from the wider public that needed to hear them. Even so, as the candidate with the most national security experience, and, in my opinion, the most practical and honorable views of American world leadership, Lindsey stood up to and helped stem the rise within our party of isolationism and obliviousness in world affairs, and indifference to human suffering.\r\nIt was my privilege to support Lindsey and campaign with him, a privilege exceeded only by the privilege of his friendship. Thank you, my friend, for all you have done for the country you love and serve so well.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=d1592f03-6d8b-46c6-9e27-cac21389c565"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7826280780136585, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}