Lindsey Graham says Trump destroying GOP's chances

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Sen. Lindsey Graham said on Thursday that Donald Trump is killing the Republican Party's chances of winning the presidential election in 2016.

"I believe Donald Trump is destroying the Republican Party's chance at winning an election we cannot afford to lose," the long-shot Republican candidate told the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Talking Points Memo reports Graham is only polling at 1 percent, but is one of the few establishment GOP voices willing to discuss the recent trend of negative rhetoric.

"I believe that it is not about turning out evangelical Christians. It is about repairing the damage done by incredibly hateful rhetoric driving a wall between us and the fastest growing demographic in America," Graham said.

Graham didn't hold back when it came to criticizing the policy positions of his rivals either. Continuing his tirade against Trump, Graham told the audience of Jewish donors that Trump's immigration plan was impractical.

"We're literally going to round them up, every single one of them including their American children, that's what the leader of the Republican Party says," he told the audience. "That sound familiar?"

Trump wasn't alone in drawing Graham's wrath. The senator set his sights on fellow senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, who both oppose abortion, even in cases of rape or incest.

"It's not because of social issues that we will lose. It's positions we take regarding social issues that can disconnect us from America at large," he said. "If you're going to tell a woman who's been raped that she has to carry the child of the rapist, you're going to lose most Americans."

The Wall Street Journal reports 700 people attended the Republican Jewish Coalition forum in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. By mid-morning, Lindsey Graham was trending on Twitter. Mediaite reports journalists in the audience live-tweeted several of Graham's digs against his fellow lawmakers.