THE OTHER LINDS Graham (Photo: Getty Images)

Radar profiles potential second bananas in the 2008 presidential race ...

More than anything, Republican presidential candidates need a veep with some conservative gravitas.

Consider the current Republican front-runners for 2008: a freewheeling former POW who can't raise money and likely wanted most of all to join John Kerry's ticket in 2004, a Mormon from Massachusetts, the thrice-married former mayor of New York City, and the trophy-wife collecting star of Baby's Day Out.

Enter Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a glib former JAG lawyer from the deep South who many conservatives feel brings old-fashioned Southern conservative flavor to the presidential race. Rush Limbaugh, in fact, has gone so far as to refer to Graham as "Vice President Lindsey Graham" when he discusses him on air. Beltway insiders, too, think Graham might make an intriguing addition to the ticket. "[Graham] will get a very serious look from McCain, Romney, and Giuliani, especially if somebody like Edwards or Obama gets the nomination for the Democrats. Both of those guys could make inroads in the South, and a guy like Graham could maybe help stop that," says one insider.

There's only one problem: Graham is not particularly popular with hard-line conservatives.

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