Lindsey Graham: Obamacare Will Hang Democrats

As long as Republicans "don't screw this up," the government shutdown will soon be old news, but Democrats will still have Obamacare hanging around their necks, says Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

"After this mess is over, Obamacare will be a liability for Democrats, and the government shutdown we can survive if we're smart," Graham said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."



The sooner the shutdown is over, the better for Republicans, he said, adding a warning to Democrats: "You own Obamacare, and it's going to be the political gift that keeps on giving."

Urgent: Do You Support Sen. Ted Cruz's Efforts to Defund Obamacare? Vote Here.

Somewhat lost in mainstream media coverage of the government shutdown and looming deadline to raise the debt ceiling are the issues facing the Affordable Care Act.  The website for signing up for the exchanges is hobbled and was shut down last weekend for repairs. And self-employed middle-class people are finding their costs for insurance skyrocketing in some cases.

Media figures such as CNN's Anderson Cooper have admitted the troubled Obamacare rollout would be a far bigger story if not overshadowed by the shutdown and debt ceiling fights.

But Graham is optimistic about the political battle for Republicans. "Obamacare's faults will be front and center in 2014 – if we don't screw this up," he said.

Graham said the current showdown is "ruining both institutions," meaning the House and Senate. "It is unrealistic to expect us to defund or delay Obamacare by shutting the government down," he said.

He didn't save all his criticism for tea party Republicans.

"The Democrats have moved the goalposts twice in the Senate," Graham said. "We're in a freefall as Republicans, but Democrats are not far behind. After listening to all of us all talk now, I probably understand why 60 percent of Americans want to vote all incumbents out."

Urgent: Do You Support Sen. Ted Cruz's Efforts to Defund Obamacare? Vote Here.