But McCain (R-Ariz.) is also the biggest pressure point when it comes to just how sustainable Graham’s conversion will be, and Trump seems bent on putting his loyalty to the test. He continues to ratchet up his attacks on McCain’s legacy, seven months after the senator’s death.

And if this weekend is any indication, Graham (R-S.C.) isn’t about to stand in his way.

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Graham did respond to the tweets, standing up for his friend.

“As to @SenJohnMcCain and his devotion to his country: He stepped forward to risk his life for his country, served honorably under difficult circumstances, and was one of the most consequential senators in the history of the body,” Graham tweeted. He added, “Nothing about his service will ever be changed or diminished.”

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This is an extremely tepid response.

Yes, Graham stands up for his friend’s honor and service, but consider this:

The “As to” beginning almost makes it sound as if this is a perfunctory tweet.

Graham never mentions Trump or makes clear what he’s responding to.

He doesn’t address Trump’s attacks on McCain’s vote or really do anything to defend McCain’s congressional record. In fact, Graham says only that McCain’s time as a senator was “consequential,” which is basically what Trump is saying — in a negative way. Other than that, he instead praises McCain in general terms for having “served” and for “his service.” The tweets are almost completely lacking in actual, substantial praise.

He doesn’t respond directly to Trump’s false claims. Graham says nothing about Trump having effectively accused his friend of conspiring with Democrats and trying to stop his election. He also says nothing about Trump sharing former U.S. solicitor general Kenneth Starr’s allegation that McCain’s conduct with regard to the Steele dossier “is unfortunately a very dark stain against John McCain.”

It would be one thing to stand up for McCain’s actual conduct or even to rebut specific allegations without mentioning Trump, but Graham does none of that here. It’s about as vanilla a defense as you could imagine. It’s the kind of thing you would expect from basically any senator who is forced into commenting on Trump’s controversies.

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And to be clear, this isn’t just inside-baseball politics. This is the kind of thing that could affect McCain’s legacy inside the party whose nomination he won in 2008. Trump is accusing Graham’s friend of truly awful things: betrayal of the party and even a conspiracy to hijack an election. Graham says nothing about McCain’s “service will ever be changed or diminished,” but that’s what’s happening here.

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