CNN Undercard Republican Debate: Live Coverage

When asked about Putin and Assad, Graham said, “I blame Obama for ISIL.” A March Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 34 percent of Republicans ranked Obama as an imminent threat, ahead of Putin (25 percent) and Assad (23 percent).

Crude oil exports — which are currently banned — are shaping up to be a big issue in Congress, and based on Huckabee’s comments, could be an issue in the general election campaign too. But the surge in U.S. oil production has already done plenty to destabilize global oil markets. Oil has tumbled below $40 a barrel, and the U.S. is importing less oil than it has in decades. Natural gas exports, by the way, are legal, and Cheniere Energy is set to start shipping liquefied natural gas from a newly constructed Louisiana terminal early in the new year.

You heard Graham just defend George W. Bush. That’s smart. According to an October CBS News poll, his favorable rating among Republicans was 67 percent. His unfavorable rating was just 8 percent.