Photo by David Williams

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R.-S.C., left, signs in to vote with the help of poll workers Maggie Winchester, left and Brittney McCall at the Corinth-Shiloh Fire Department Tuesday. Graham, a native of Oconee County votes in the Ravenel precinct and he was among the majority of those casting Republican ballots.

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Photo by David Williams

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., right, makes a point with Oconee County election worker Phil Soper after Graham cast his ballot at his home precinct Tuesday. Graham lives less than two miles from the Corinth-Shiloh Fire Department on Old Clemson Road which is the polling place for the Ravenel precinct.

COLUMBIA — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham fended off a primary challenge Tuesday from a Republican who accused the one-term incumbent of being too liberal for South Carolina while criticizing his ties to John McCain and their work on failed immigration reform.

With 66 percent of precincts reporting, Graham had 68 percent of the vote compared with 32 percent for challenger Buddy Witherspoon, a retired orthodontist and former Republican National Committee member.

Graham had a dominating war chest and name recognition and few observers believed his re-election bid was in danger. McCain, after all, did win the January primary here and Graham has used his endorsement in television ads.

“Tonight represents a victory for mainstream, traditional conservatism,” Graham told The Associated Press.

It was a vindication compared to his reception a year ago at the state GOP convention, when the crowd booed and shouted “No” at Graham’s explanations of the immigration bill. He became the butt of criticism from conservatives and Rush Limbaugh labeled the proposal “Grahamnesty.”

But Graham has a huge financial advantage over all comers. His most recent filing showed he spent $3.2 million through May 21 and had $4.5 million on hand. Witherspoon had spent $211,356 and had $94,484 on hand after borrowing $220,000 to run his campaign.

Graham, 52, is an Air Force Reserve colonel and has served in Iraq as the only uniformed member of the U.S. Senate.

The lawyer grew was born in Seneca and grew up watching his parents run a restaurant, pool hall and liquor store. When they died 15 months apart as he finished his degree at the University of South Carolina, he adopted his younger sister Darline when she was 13.

Witherspoon, a 69-year-old Navy veteran, characterized himself as a devout Christian who opposes abortion and gay marriage and knocks Graham for being “joined at the hip” with McCain. He says he’s playing the role of David vs. Goliath in the race, and wants to severely crack down on businesses that knowingly hire illegal workers.

Glenn Muskovin, a retired construction worker who lives in Columbia, said he voted for Graham even though he doesn’t always agree with the senator.

“I think he votes in our best interest, to take care of our troops and needing an actual immigration law instead of the way it is right now. He hasn’t wavered like a lot of politicians,” said Muskovin, 52.

Graham’s two lightly funded Democratic challengers, Mount Pleasant attorney Michael Cone and North Myrtle Beach engineer Bob Conley, also knock him as backing an illegal immigration plan they call amnesty. Conley had $961 on hand and hard raised $9,588 in contributions and a $2,400 personal loan. Michael Cone had $371 on hand after raising $1,929 and a loan of $9,500.

With 68 percent of precincts reporting, the race between Cone and Conley was too close to call.