President Donald Trump has stepped into a tough South Carolina Senate runoff to help Darline Graham, whose campaign has faced new doubts after a debate answer on national security.
Trump spoke at a rally in Myrtle Beach on Friday. He asked voters to back Graham in the runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman. He also urged voters to see the race as a choice between his agenda and his critics.
“We’re going to elect Senator Darline Graham,” Trump said. He said she would fight for South Carolina and put America first.
Graham is the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. He died last month after 31 years in Congress. Trump spoke warmly about their long friendship during the rally.
“I think Lindsey respected Darline more than any other person he knows, including me,” Trump said.
Trump had backed Darline Graham before she formally began her campaign. He also pushed for her to fill the rest of her brother’s Senate term.
The runoff comes after Graham won the first round. She led Norman by about eight points. Yet her campaign soon faced a new test.
During a debate, Graham was asked about the US relationship with Taiwan. She said she was “not that informed on national security.” She also said national security was “not my thing.”
The answer drew sharp criticism from some Republicans. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley backed Norman and attacked Graham’s debate answer. Former Gov. Mark Sanford also endorsed Norman before Trump’s rally.
Trump defended Graham. He said she was being honest. He also said she had strong people around her and supported the military.
Trump said national security was his area of focus. He said Graham would follow the wishes of the military and his agenda.
Graham also tried to turn her lack of political experience into a strength. She told the crowd that critics said she should not run because she was not a politician.
“You know what I say? Guilty as charged,” Graham said.
She then pointed to Trump’s own path. Trump had never held elected office before winning the White House in 2016.
The president’s support remains a key part of Graham’s campaign. But recent results show that his backing does not always lead to victory.
Several Trump backed candidates have lost recent Republican primaries. They include candidates in South Carolina, Wyoming, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Iowa. Mike Lindell, a close Trump ally, also lost a Minnesota governor primary.
That record gives the South Carolina runoff added weight. Trump has spent more time using online posts and remote rallies to support candidates. His visit to Myrtle Beach was a more direct show of support.
Trump also said he plans to spend heavily to help Republican candidates he supports. He did not give a specific amount for the South Carolina race.
Gov. Henry McMaster also backed Graham before the rally. He praised her support for Trump’s agenda and her work during the rest of her brother’s term.
Trump told the crowd that the midterm elections will have major stakes. He warned that a Democratic victory could bring new investigations and another impeachment fight.
The debate issue has made the race harder for Graham. Her supporters say honesty is better than pretending to know what she does not. Her critics say a senator must be ready to face global threats from day one.
Norman now has a clear opening. He can present himself as the more experienced choice. Graham is leaning on Trump, her family name and her short record in office.
The final result will show how much those factors matter in a Republican state where Trump remains a major political force.
For Graham, the runoff is now about more than replacing her brother. It is also a test of whether Trump’s support can overcome doubts about her experience.
Trump made that choice clear during his speech. He asked voters to act as if he himself were on the ballot.
“Just say that I’m on the ballot one more time,” he said.
