“We have a Democratic senator — Lindsey Graham.”

That’s a refrain heard in South Carolina Democratic circles these days as they size up the Republican U.S. senator from Seneca.

They like what they see.

Former state Democratic Party chairman Dick Harpootlian mailed Graham a $1,000 campaign donation to express his pleasure.

Elected to the Senate in 2002, Graham has surprised many Democrats. He hasn’t turned out to be the right-winger many feared he would become.

Graham is a Republican, make no mistake about it. Nine times out of 10 he votes with the GOP. But he isn’t a yes-man or a tool of the White House.

Graham is much like his friend and fellow Republican, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona. Francis Marion University political science professor Neal Thigpen, calls him “McCain Jr.”

“This is the man Lindsey emulates,” says Thigpen, a GOP activist.

That doesn’t sit well with Republicans who still remember South Carolina’s bitter 2000 GOP presidential primary between McCain and George W. Bush. Some Republicans are threatening to make life miserable for McCain if he runs in 2008.

Not easily intimidated, Graham — who helped run McCain’s S.C. campaign in 2000 — says he will fight alongside his friend again, while deflecting verbal brick bats hurled by the GOP establishment.

When Graham ran for the Senate in 2002, the Bush White House wanted to make him pay for supporting McCain. It tried to recruit a primary opponent to take on then-U.S. Rep. Graham but couldn’t find any takers.

Republicans who think Graham has carried his independence a bit too far say the senator ‘s actions are likely to invite a GOP primary opponent in 2008.

But University of South Carolina political science professor Brad Gomez dismisses such talk.

“Despite what Democrats are saying, the Republicans have known that Graham had an independent streak before the last election,” says Gomez, who does not take part in partisan efforts.

“Republicans knew what they were getting from the beginning. If they were going to go after him, they would have done it when the seat was open.”

Still, political experts say Graham must be careful not to take his independence too far.

It could cause a deep split in GOP ranks and weaken Republican cohesiveness in the Senate, says Winthrop University political analyst Scott Huffmon, who does not participate in partisan efforts.

Rank-and-file Republicans remain committed to Graham — for now.

Mary Ann Riley, a party activist from Inman, likes Graham’s independence. “I wouldn’t want a yes-man in there,” she says.

Walter McSherry of Spartanburg says, “I don’t have any squawks with Lindsey.”

S.C. Republicans generally take Graham’s independence in stride. But have Graham appear on television with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and they go nuts.

“It’s motivated by hatred for Hillary,” Huffmon says.

It also annoys Republicans to have their senator standing next to Clinton, saying all kinds of nice things about her. “It gives her credibility,” Huffmon says.

The joint appearances raise the ire of party activists who flood the state GOP headquarters with e-mails blistering Clinton and questioning Graham’s judgment.

“If we could put a price on every piece of e-mail, I’d be very wealthy,” says state GOP chairman Katon Dawson.

Graham says his working relationship with Clinton benefits South Carolina.

“Our state is very small,” Graham says, “I have the reputation in the Senate of being someone others can trust and work with.

“It makes me a more effective senator for South Carolina.”

But Hillary?

“Here’s my advice to South Carolinians,” Graham says. “Take a break, chill out, go enjoy your freedom.”

He says he will continue to work with Clinton for the betterment of South Carolina.