Trump to rally behind Darline Graham in South Carolina US Senate race

PENDLETON, S.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump will travel to South Carolina on Wednesday to bolster U.S. Sen. Darline Grahamwhose stumbles in his first campaign since replacing his late brother are giving Democratic voters hope — but not necessarily optimism — that their candidate can break the Republicans’ hold on the state.

Although South Carolina is not typically a midterm battleground, Trump is deeply invested in Graham. He supported his appointment to replace Lindsey Graham after his death in July, and he supported her in a special primary where she faced several more experienced Republican opponents. But a certain distance has become clear between the Republican president and the senator this weekend over his decision to lift war sanctions against Russia in Ukraine, which were to be imposed under a law named in honor of Lindsey Graham.

The Republicans want to make sure Annie AndrewsDemocratic candidate and pediatrician, does not win a surprise victory. More than $34 million was invested in the race, and Republicans have called Andrews a “radical liberal” and accused her of supporting surgeries on transgender minors, which she denies.

This week, Trump is rallying every day for candidates across the country, even in conservative areas, and imploring voters to “pretend I’m on the ballot” in hopes of avoiding a lackluster Republican turnout in the midterms.

“Darline Graham knows the momentum in our campaign is so strong that she called Donald Trump to come campaign for her in South Carolina,” Andrews said in a fundraising email.

Darline Graham rushed to define herself – and clung to Trump

Lindsey Graham was on his way to a fifth term when he died of a torn aortic. Darline Graham, former director of the state agency for the blind, received bipartisan support when she was appointed to fill her brother’s term. But her decision to run for the seat midterm sparked skepticism about the political neophyte’s ability to hold the position.

Darline Graham had the support of Trump, who campaigned for her before the runoff with US Representative Ralph Norman. A stumble on a question related to U.S. policy on Taiwan, in which Graham admitted she was “not very knowledgeable about national security,” prompted questions about her preparation.

Waiting for him at a weekend event in Mount Pleasant, Nanette Tumbleston said she was confident Graham should win, shuddering at the thought of what could happen if the seat went to Democrats.

“I hope everyone’s eyes are opened and we have a Republican victory,” Tumbleston said, adding that she fears the influence of progressives within the Democratic Party. “I just don’t see how they can imagine that the world will be a better place with these policies.”

Andrews went from Lindsey Graham to Darline Graham

Andrews launched his campaign more than a year before Lindsey Graham’s death. She began criticizing Darline Graham as “Trump approved and unqualified.”

Andrews argues that Republican policies have not only weakened the American economy as a whole but also the financial situation of children and families, centering her message on “building a South Carolina we can all afford,” as she said last week in Columbia.

While the pediatrician seemed to be gaining momentum this fall, Republican groups injected millions of dollars in the race, calling the spending an insurance policy for Graham. Trump attacked Andrews on social media, saying the Democrat does not represent “the values ​​of the great people of South Carolina.”

Some Andrews supporters acknowledge that while Democrats might ultimately make inroads in South Carolina, it could take longer.

Paul Davis, of Aiken, said “people are really angry and tired, and they can’t afford it.” However, he said a Democratic victory “could be a cycle or two away.”

Candidates accuse each other of being incompetent

HAS their only debateGraham and Andrews disagreed on issues such as health care, but mainly accused each other of inexperience.

“It’s nothing personal, but she has shown time and time again that she is not ready for workAndrews said, calling Graham’s interim appointment a “nice gesture.”

Graham said serving while dealing with her brother’s death showed “how strong I am,” adding that “I’m as qualified as you are.”

At the Columbia rally, some Andrews supporters said they were hopeful, despite Democrats’ years of Senate defeats in the state. When Lindsey Graham last ran in 2020, he defeated Democrat Jaime Harrison in 10 percentage points in a contest that turned South Carolina most expensive ever.

“It’s really frustrating,” said Emily Glenham, an editor for Columbia. “It’s really disappointing, but we can’t not have hope.”

Sandra Martin of West Columbia agreed that Andrews had “a good chance,” but she was looking more toward the future.

“Georgia did it,” she said. “If Georgia can do it, there’s no reason why we can’t someday.”

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Meg Kinnard can be contacted at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP