Lindsey Graham admits ‘Trump the provocateur, the showman’ could lose election

Donald Trump’s team is publicly proclaiming confidence as his rivals head into a week-long convention in Chicago which is set to be centered around touting the wins of the Biden administration and coronating Kamala Harris as the next generation of leadership for the party.

But Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s close allies in Congess, offered a far less-than-optimistic outlook on Sunday when speaking aboutthe race for the White House.

Speaking to moderator Kristen Welker on NBC’s Meet the Press, the Republican senator warned that Trump may very well lose the election if he does not shift his strategy and end the personal attacks on Harris.

“[I]n the advice-giving column, here's what I would say. Donald Trump – President Trump can win this election,” Graham said, putting emphasis on the image of Trump as president and the connections to his administration’s policies.

“His policies are good for America, and if you have a policy debate for president, he wins. [But] Donald Trump, the private [citizen], the provocateur, the showman, may not win this election.”

He added: “So, I'm looking for President Trump to show up in the last 80 days to define what he will do for our country to fix broken borders, to lower inflation.”

WATCH: Sen. <a rel=«nofollow» target="_blank" href=«https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC?ref_src=» https:>@LindseyGrahamSC

® says “policy is the key to the White House,” while Donald Trump focuses on personal attacks against Kamala Harris.

“If you have a policy debate, he wins. Donald Trump the provocateur, the showman, may not win this election.” pic.twitter.com/HnKaq4nlo4

It was a stark warning, and a very public one from a loyalist Republican senator who was one of the first in the party to come around and