WASHINGTON _ Sen. Lindsey Graham is convinced that he holds the key to ending the partial government shutdown, but at the moment he's largely shouting into a void.
The South Carolina Republican with a reputation in Washington as a dealmaker is floating a compromise to an audience that has signaled no desire to cooperate.
For a lawmaker accustomed to being at the center of the action on practically every major legislative fight �� he even helped broker a deal to end the last government shutdown nearly a year ago �� Graham is noticeably absent from this battle.
