December 21, 2015 09:38 AM UTC

So Long, Lindsey Graham

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• by: Colorado Pols

The 2016 election looks like it will be heavy on foreign policy issues. On Monday, the Republican Presidential field lost its most knowledgable foreign policy candidate. From the Associated Press:

The South Carolina senator — the only candidate from one of the four early voting states — posted a video saying he was proud of his campaign, which he said was focused on the nation’s security.

“You have honored me with your support. I believe we have run a campaign we can be proud of,” Graham said. “We put forth bold and practical solutions to big problems about retiring our debt and fixing our broken immigration system. This has been a problem solvers campaign. However the centerpiece of my campaign has been securing our nation.

Having mustered little support in the polls, Graham’s exit will not have an immediate effect on the race in the final stretch before the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses and the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary. But his decision could produce a ripple effect in his home state, which follows New Hampshire with a Feb. 20 primary. Some leading Republicans in South Carolina have remained uncommitted to this point out of loyalty to their senior senator, but now are free to take sides. Graham, too, could make an endorsement, though he’s given no indication of when that might be.

On the bright side, perhaps Graham’s exit from the race will finally end the silly practice of holding a “Junior Varsity” or “kid’s table” debate the next time all of the Republican candidates get together.