Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) released a series of ads in the days leading up to the special Republican primary runoff showing her support for keeping men out of women’s sports and for the SAVE America Act, aligning herself with President Donald Trump‘s top campaign messages.
The senator had been under scrutiny for being relatively mum on her policy stances, as she waited until the past week to focus her campaign on select issues.
During a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for Graham Nordone’s campaign, Trump delivered remarks in which he repeatedly criticized Democrats for their stance on voting requirements and on transgender issues, such as men in women’s sports. He joked that he prefers Republican candidates to wait to attack Democrats for their stances, so that Democrats are not able to move away from their unpopular policies before the election.
“I call them ‘Dumocrats’ because their policy is so dumb. Think of it: men in women’s sports, open borders for the entire world to pour into, totally unchecked, unvetted,” the president said. “Think of it: the transgender nonsense, like everybody, your children should be mutilated in a chair. Can you believe these things? And I don’t talk about it too much until we get right before an election because I don’t want them to change.”
The president explained that allowing Democrats to run with what he calls “radical-left” policies allows for Republicans to come in swinging promoting what he has dubbed “commonsense” policies.
“Anybody that believes in this stuff cannot win an election,” Trump said. “I always tell the Republicans, don’t talk about it because they’ll change. Do it one week, two weeks before the election, and that’s where we are.”
Graham Nordone had rough week before the Friday evening rally. Following the debate against her Senate special primary runoff opponent Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Graham Nordone faced backlash for admitting ignorance on national security policy, prompting critics to jump on the senator’s lack of political experience.
Prior to the debate, Norman and his allies sought to cast Graham Nordone as a largely undefined Republican who benefited from a famous last name. She is the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
“What if Darline Graham had any other last name?” said an ad, released just hours before the debate, from the pro-Norman Palmetto First PAC. “Do we really know where she stands? Darline won’t tell us. Ralph Norman has a proven conservative record.”
But just as she was being painted as obscure, Graham Nordone released a series of ads homing in on her position on select issues such as the SAVE America Act and transgender athletes.
On the morning of the debate, the senator released an ad affirming her stance that “girls’ sports are for girls, and as your U.S. senator, I will fight every day to keep it that way,” which also detailed her experience watching her daughter play volleyball.
The next day, Graham Nordone put out another ad touting her support for Second Amendment rights. The video featured Graham Nordone touring FN America’s firearms facility, holding several different weapons. She also shared clips of her championing the SAVE America Act.
Graham Nordone was encouraged to seek a full term by Trump after being appointed to her late brother’s seat after his unexpected death, and has since backed the president’s policy priorities while campaigning in the runoff.
DARLINE GRAHAM NORDONE DEBATE FUMBLE SPOTLIGHTS QUESTIONS ON POLICY VIEWS
While Graham Nordone is looking to fill her late brother’s shoes, she has been open about the fact that she is “not a politician” and never wanted to take on this role. Lindsey Graham was known for being a foreign policy hawk, while Graham Nordone has acknowledged she doesn’t have the same expertise, but said: “Can I learn? I’m smart. Yes, I’ll learn.”
South Carolina voters head to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether Graham Nordone or Norman will take on Democrat Annie Andrews in November.