DERAILING

Graham Ditches Climate Change

Monday's unveiling now postponed.

Monday's unveiling of the Senate climate-change bill has been postponed after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) pulled out of “tripartisan” climate-change negotiations in the Senate, crying foul at Democrats’ plans to move up debate on immigration reform. The South Carolinian spent two days in talks to confirm reports that Senate Democrats plan to move the immigration bill ahead of the climate one, perhaps delaying the latter till next year. Graham had been set to participate in a major news conference Monday with Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to unveil the environmental legislation, but instead has released a letter saying, "Moving forward on immigration—in this hurried, panicked manner—is nothing more than a cynical political ploy." But Democrats say Graham’s move is itself a cynical ploy to protect his best senatorial pal John McCain (R-AZ), who is caught in a tough primary fight with the staunchly anti-immigration former Rep. J.D. Hayworth.