Sen. Lindsey Graham predicted victory for his bill banning abortions midway through pregnancy, saying Thursday night that he's looking forward to debating it in the Senate this year.

"I am dying to have this debate," the South Carolina Republican told a crowd at the annual gala hosted by the Susan B. Anthony List. "I think America is at her best when she's standing up for the least among us and I look forward to this debate more than we will ever know."

The legislation Graham was referring to would prohibit most abortions past 20 weeks of pregnancy. Similar versions have been passed in about a dozen states.

The House has already passed such a bill but Senate Republicans weren't able to bring it up for a vote until they took majority this year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he'll hold a vote on the bill at some point.

Called a "pain-capable" bill, the measure is premised on the idea that a fetus can feel pain past 20 weeks of development. Abortion opponents say it's moderate because it would prohibit abortion only in the second half of pregnancy. About 1 percent of abortions are performed after that point.

"I want the Left to tell me why in 2015, abortion on demand five months into pregnancy makes us a better country," Graham said. "If the baby feels pain, maybe we shouldn't abort the baby."

Graham urged attendees to work towards electing a Republican president next year — along with retaining majorities in the House and Senate —so the bill could be enacted into law. President Obama has said he would veto such a measure.

"Work for the presidency as if somebody else's life depended on it, because it does," Graham said.