we re conservative, but we re not mad about it. reporter: senator lindsey graham is south carolina s cheerful conservative. but most republicans didn t expect 2014 to be a cheerful year for him. this is a conservative state with an active tea party and graham doesn t talk like a tea party senator. my sister went to college with pell grants. and i can tell you there was a time when social security benefits meant the world to my family. so i m a republican who believes that there is a role for the government. they just can t shut us out and stifle our chances to succeed as individuals. reporter: he s angered the base backing immigration reform and president obama s two nominees. what are you up against here? well, i don t know. seven to ten people. i think incumbency is part of it. you know, washington s broken. i get that.