There are few states that are more Republican than South Carolina. Just a few years ago, George Bush was the object of a near cult-like worship among the Palmetto State’s GOP true believers.

But during an address to the state GOP convention on Saturday, when Sen. Lindsey Graham — a leading supporter of John McCain — mentioned Bush and waited for the cheers and applause, all he got was, as Keith Olbermann put it on “Countdown” last night … crickets:

Graham used his remarks to embrace President Bush, just hours before he was to meet Bush at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and accompany him to Furman University for a presidential commencement address that has divided the campus.

At his first mention of Bush’s visit, Graham paused, waiting for applause. When it didn’t come, it took a slight nod from Graham to prompt a round of applause.

“President Bush is my friend,” he continued, “and I’m not going to run away from the friend.”

Graham may want to reconsider not running away from Bush. He is up for reelection in November and faces a primary challenge from Buddy Witherspoon of the benighted town of Irmo. Witherspoon has been attempting to raise Graham’s negatives by calling him the worst name imaginable in South Carolina: “liberal.” In fact, outside the convention hall, Witherspoon supporters had decorated the grounds with signs reading, “Lindsey is too Liberal for South Carolina.”

While George Bush may no longer be popular in South Carolina, the state can still be expected to vote overwhelmingly for McCain, and thus a de facto third term for Bush, in November.