(Photo by Gage Skidmore - CC BY 2.0)

Sen. Lindsey Graham

The not-so-surprising collapse of Lindsey Graham's presidential campaign has left Arizona's senior senator with some choices.
 
Sen. John McCain had backed his fellow defense hawk in the crowded Republican presidential field. But Graham had failed to get out of the low single digits in polls, despite McCain campaigning for him, most recently in New Hampshire.

Graham dropped out of the race for the White House on Monday morning.

Speaking to reporters hours later at a staged event for his own reelection at a Salvation Army kettle, McCain was philosophical — and non-committal — about where his support goes now.
 
"I appreciate everything Lindsey Graham has done. As you know, my dearest friends. I'm proud of the race he ran. But I will be remaining out of it, certainly for the time being," said McCain.
 
Even if that means Donald Trump as party standard-bearer?
 
"I will respect, obviously, the verdict of the voters, the Republican voters in the primary process, of course," McCain said.
 
McCain also said he doesn't believe anything he says will make a big difference to voters.
 
"I really believe that endorsements are one of the most overrated aspects of American politics," he said. "Especially New Hampshire. They like to make their own judgment of the candidate. And they get a chance to see all the candidates."