Introduction

Update, Dec. 21, 2015: Lindsey Graham has decided to end his 2016 presidential campaign.

A foreign policy hawk and staunch defender of Israel, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will today declare himself a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

In Congress, Graham has been involved with numerous high-profile legislative battles, including national security issues, immigration reform, energy policy and campaign finance regulation.

Here’s more about the political and financial history of this three-term senator who’d like to become the next president.

American Israel Public Affairs Committee board members helped bankroll a pro-Lindsey Graham super PAC in 2014. Graham has called Israel the “best friend” of the United States.

Lindsey Graham was among the attendees of an off-the-record retreat at a Georgia luxury resort earlier this year.

Lindsey Graham’s campaign was responsible for about 40 percent of the 13,300 TV ads that aired during his 2014 re-election bid.

About $1 of every $5 Lindsey Graham raised ahead of his 2014 re-election came from PACs, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Who was Lindsey Graham’s top contributor in his last campaign? Employees of SCANA, owner of South Carolina’s largest utility.

In 2011 and 2012, Lindsey Graham collected a larger portion of campaign funds from lobbyist-bundlers than any other lawmaker.

Lindsey Graham’s PAC made a dozen contributions to anti-abortion groups and pregnancy centers in 2013 and 2014.

The National Right to Life Committee ranks Graham as voting with them on 89 out of 95 key votes. Where they differed most? Campaign finance reform, which Graham supported.

Earlier this year, Lindsey Graham warned that too much money would “destroy American politics.”

Sources: Center for Public Integrity reporting, as well as Bloomberg, Center for Responsive Politics, Federal Election Commission, Kantar Media/CMAG, Mother Jones, National Right to Life Committee and YouTube

Image sources: Jim Cole/AP, defense.gov/Wikicommons, John Orell/ Flickr