Contrary to Karl Rove, Sen. Lindsey Graham thinks Hillary Clinton is fine

William Douglas - McClatchy Washington Bureau

Updated May 13, 2014 3:42 PM

US NEWS CALIF-HILLARYCLINTON 1 LA — Hillary Clinton shows her UCLA Medal in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 5, 2014. Los Angeles Times/MCT

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., admits that he's no doctor - and doesn't play one on TV - but he thinks that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looks perfectly fine to him.

After Karl Rove, former President George W. Bush's political strategist, suggested on Monday that the former diplomat, senator, first lady and potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate may have lingering health issues from a fall she suffered in December 2012, Graham weighed in Tuesday with his own diagnosis.

'She seems robust, vibrant and feisty," Graham said. "I see nothing that suggests a medical problem. Anybody that looks at her, you can tell she's very much in the game. I don't see any lingering effects. I'm not a doctor. She'll have to prove that she's capable, just like Sen. (John) McCain did (in 2008).'

The New York Post's Page Six reported Monday that Rove seemed to suggest that Clinton has suffered brain damage. The 2012 fall caused a blood clot that forced her to postpone testifying to Congress on the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks on the U.S. mission and CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya.

'Thirty days in the hospital?' Rove said, according to Page Six. 'And when she reappears, she's wearing glasses that are only for people who have traumatic brain injury? We need to know what's up with that.'

Clinton actually only spent three days in the hospital after the fall. In a Fox News interview Tuesday, Rove said he never specifically said Clinton had brain damage. But he didn't back off in questioning her health.

'I never used that phrase, I never used that phrase,' he said. 'But look, she had a serious health episode. And I don't know about you, but if you go through a serious health episode, it causes you to look at life a little bit differently. This is a serious deal.'

Graham doesn't think so. But he does think health will be a question Clinton will face if she does decide to run for president at age 69.

'Sixty-nine is the new 49,' Graham said. 'I think Karl made an observation that's true that her health care episode and general health will be looked at.'

McCain, R-Ariz., who was 72 when he ran against then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2008 for the White House, said Clinton should expect to have her medical history scrutinized and would do well to provide details as sooner rather than later to circumvent the likely torrent of questions from her opponents and the media.

'I had to have a complete revelation of all my medical records, I know that was the only way I was able to put the issue behind me,' he said. 'I would suggest it because the media will continue to question until they feel they have all the necessary information. But I do not claim that she's had any injury or anything like that. I don't have that kind of medical expertise, as well qualified as I am

This story was originally published May 13, 2014 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Contrary to Karl Rove, Sen. Lindsey Graham thinks Hillary Clinton is fine."

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