Trump Returns to South Carolina to Rally Backers for Darline Graham in Tight Senate Race
The president visited Fort Mill on Thursday to encourage GOP turnout as Democrat Annie Andrews narrows the gap in a seat held by Republicans since 1997.
By Fatou Kim ·
President Donald Trump returned to South Carolina on Thursday for a second appearance in the month to rally support for Darline Graham. The visit aimed to mobilize Republican voters in the final days of the midterm election.
Graham is fighting to secure a six year term in the U.S. Senate. She was appointed to the seat in July by Gov. Henry McMaster following the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. In August, she became the Republican nominee to succeed him.
Her opponent, Democrat Annie Andrews, has mounted a competitive campaign. Andrews is a pediatrician who previously ran for Congress. She is urging voters to break with the state's long standing pattern of electing Republicans to the Senate.
Trump praised the late Lindsey Graham during his visit. He called him a great politician and stated that Darline Graham has the gene. He positioned her as the natural successor to her brother's legacy in Washington.
Darline Graham spoke before the president. She credited Trump with delivering promises made by Washington for decades. She warned that her opponent would throw those gains away if elected.
Andrews campaigned in nearby Fort Mill on Wednesday. She told voters that they could fire her in six years if she failed to meet their expectations. She promised to win them over with her performance on Capitol Hill.
Voters expressed mixed feelings about the race. Brent Chaplin, a 37 year old finance worker and registered Republican, said it is difficult to align with the party right now. He voted for Andrews and encouraged others to think beyond partisanship. Benjamin Updegraft, a 32 year old software engineer, criticized the dynamic of the race. He stated that the Senate is not an inherited position and that noble titles should not pass between families.
