Darline Graham, Ralph Norman clash in tight South Carolina Senate runoff

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Sen. Darline Graham’s advantage in unpublished polling had narrowed in the run-up to Tuesday’s Republican Senate primary runoff in South Carolina, but President Trump’s rally on her behalf Friday in Myrtle Beach could provide a decisive late boost, according to the story.

At the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Trump told thousands of supporters that Graham “only knows how to put America first” and urged them to back her, the article said. Trump carried South Carolina by 18 percentage points in the last election, and his endorsement is expected to energize turnout in one of the state’s most populous areas ahead of the runoff against five-term Rep. Ralph Norman.

Norman, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, has campaigned on his conservative record and congressional experience, writing on X that the Senate “has become a place where good legislation goes to die” and casting himself as the only “PROVEN conservative” in the race, per the story.

Graham’s campaign was dealt a setback this month after she said during a debate that she was “not that informed on national security” when asked about China and Taiwan, a stumble that drew criticism given her lack of prior elected experience, the article noted. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who has endorsed Norman, said Graham’s late brother and predecessor, Sen. Lindsey Graham, “was well informed on the United States’ national security” while Darline Graham “admits she’s not,” according to the story.

Polling in the race has been mixed. An internal poll from Norman’s campaign released last week showed him leading Graham 52% to 40% among likely voters, contradicting most public polls showing Graham ahead, the article said. Pollster Matt Towery told The Washington Times that “highly reliable” internal numbers showed Graham’s lead slipping in recent days, though she led in most public polling this month and won the Aug. 11 primary by 8 points.

Graham was appointed last month by Gov. Henry McMaster to serve the remainder of her brother’s term after he died July 11 from an aortic dissection. Since taking office, she has voted for a voter ID bill that is a top Trump priority and for sanctions legislation her brother had written targeting Russia and Iran. She is backed by Sen. Tim Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee and called her “highly qualified, incredibly competent, ready for prime time” on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the story said.

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