Political heads butted — metaphorically, at least — Friday as Senator Darline Graham and Congressman Ralph Norman, both South Carolina Republicans, jostled for votes as the clock ticks down to a Tuesday runoff vote.
Neither contender for the Palmetto State’s GOP nomination to the U.S. Senate — a nomination vacated when Ms. Graham’s brother, Lindsey Graham, died in July — faced each other in person. Mr. Norman greeted voters in Anderson at the same time she rallied in Myrtle Beach with President Trump.
“With your help this November, we’re going to stop the radical left Democrat communists here in South Carolina and all across the nation, and we’re going to elect Senator Darline Graham to fight, fight, fight for South Carolina and to always put America first,” Mr. Trump told thousands at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
The president, after recounting his administration’s accomplishments, urged voters to imagine he is a candidate this year, even though that is not the case.
“What I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot. Just come and vote. It’s so important. So just say that I’m on the ballot one more time,” he said.
After he called her to the platform, Ms. Graham said, “Mr. President, I am proud to stand with you to work hard for this country and to work for this great state of South Carolina every single day.”
The president and Ms. Graham appeared before thousands in Myrtle Beach; Mr. Norman addressed a much smaller number of voters in Anderson County, as evidenced by a short video posted to social media. The congressman acknowledged the role of local politicians in the event: “THANK YOU to Sen. Richard Cash and State Rep. April Cromer for the warm welcome to Anderson County!! It was a pleasure to sit down with Tara Servatius, the voice of the Upstate, to talk ALL things proven conservatism. The countdown to Tuesday, August 25th begins!!”
Earlier Friday, Mr. Norman picked up a substantial supporter: Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford decided to make what he called a “rare” endorsement in the runoff. He said that while Ms. Graham is “a good lady,” and his relationship with her late brother made him want to “stay neutral” in this race, “holding the line on government spending” pushed him to make a choice.
“I am freaked about this issue given our crossing of the $40 trillion federal debt mark this week. It has heinous implications for all of us,” said Mr. Sanford, who came in fourth in the August 11 primary. “The stakes are simply too high as our nation really is at a financial tipping point. It’s for these reasons and more that I will be voting for Ralph on Tuesday and respectfully ask that you do the same.”
Ms. Graham also faced criticism over her answer during a televised debate last week to a national-security question about the importance of Taiwan and the South China Sea to the United States. “I’m just going to be honest here,” she replied to the query Newsmax anchor Greta Van Susteren posed. “I’m just not that informed on national security. But I do support the military. My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years, so I will do everything I can to support the military. My dad was in the Army. I’m not a polished politician up here. National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise. But I do support the military.”
That answer has been seized upon by critics who say the appointed senator is not up to the job, but Mr. Trump, speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews before traveling to Myrtle Beach, praised her candor. “All she was is being honest. She’s very smart, and she was being honest,” he said.
