Lindsey Graham wins second-tier #GOPDebate on Twitter
In CNN's second-tier debate, Twitter users couldn't stop talking about one candidate: South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Graham was mentioned in more than 10,000 tweets from beginning to end of the debate, according to social media analytics site Topsy. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum was next, with almost 6,000 tweets.
From bold quotes to funny hand gestures, debate viewers sent out gifs, videos and quotes featuring Graham during the #GOPDebate.
Here are the top 5 moments mentioned during the first debate Wednesday night:
1. The moment Graham told Bobby Jindal, the Republican governor of Louisiana, to "talk to the hand."
Talk to the hand, Bobby pic.twitter.com/KzVlKg9ceM
— Dorsey Shaw (@dorseyshaw) September 16, 2015
OMG Lindsey Graham just told Bobby Jindal to talk to the hand.
— Maegan Vazquez (@maeganvaz) September 16, 2015
2. Twitter users cheered on Graham's suggestion that Washington needs to "drink more." In fact, he said: "That's the first thing I'm gonna do as president. We're gonna drink more." He was referring to President Reagan's habit of having a drink with his political opponent Democratic Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill.
"We're gon' drink more." - Lindsay Graham and also everyone watching this debate
— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) September 16, 2015
Ordinarily I'd say Lindsey Graham was irresponsible for suggesting DC politicos drink more... I guess worth a try :) pic.twitter.com/WLoGYjeiwa
— Montel Williams (@Montel_Williams) September 16, 2015
Okay Sen. Graham just got my attention. "What are we gonna do when I am POTUS? We're gonna drink more." #CNNDebate
— Hey now ⚡... (@Deadhead1968) September 16, 2015
3. Graham's self-deprecating humor was also a big hit. He seemed to mock himself more than any other candidate during the debate, which was held in the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. By the end of the debate, he said it would be the longest time he'd spent in any library.
Lindsey Graham joked that by the end of the #CNNDebate it will be the longest time he's spent in any library http://t.co/VPJg25X7DH
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) September 16, 2015
4. Graham called out former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton out for the attack on the U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi: "Where the hell were you on the night of the Benghazi attack?"
.@HillaryClinton: Where the hell were you on the night of the Benghazi attack? pic.twitter.com/E7JgOIk1lp
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 16, 2015
Graham with the 1st mention of Benghazi. #GOPDebate
— Jessica (@JessicaGoldstei) September 16, 2015
Graham hits @HillaryClinton on Benghazi. Finally.
— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) September 16, 2015
Oh, Lindsay Graham. Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi... It was only a matter of time... #GOPDebate
— gnicole (@g9nicole) September 17, 2015
5: Finally, many in the social media sphere praised Graham for "keeping it real" when he said he doesn't speak English very well.
Lindsey Graham keeping it real with "I've never spent this much time in a library before" and " I don't speak English that well" haha
— lillian (@llayala23) September 16, 2015
Most true thing said so far during the #CNNDebate. Lindsday Graham, "I don't speak English very well."
— Katherine Revello (@MrsWynandPapers) September 16, 2015