Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) this evening took on the job of touting his “dear friend,” GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), as the candidate best suited to win the war on terrorism. Graham is not a top Senate leader and did not run for president, but he is considered McCain’s closest Senate ally, earning him a coveted prime-time speaking slot on the final night of the convention.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this speech is for the troops,” Graham began. But the speech dwelled mostly on McCain, whom Graham touted for his early backing of the “surge” of troops into Iraq that many credit with helping turn around the war in Iraq. “Some said it was political suicide,” Graham said of McCain’s support for the surge. “But you know what? It was the right thing to do.”

Graham panned Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois for not backing the troop increase. “The surge was a test for Barack Obama,” Graham said. “He failed miserably.”

Graham also saluted Sen. Joseph Lieberman (ID-Conn.), another close friend of McCain’s who broke with most Democrats to back the surge.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank God for Joe Lieberman,” he said.