Trump to rally for Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina amid Russia sanctions rift
In short
President Donald Trump will visit South Carolina on Wednesday to boost Sen. Darline Graham, who is running against Democrat Annie Andrews. Some distance has emerged between them over his decision to waive Ukraine war sanctions on Russia, according to AP text carried by three outlets.
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President Donald Trump will visit South Carolina on Wednesday to boost U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, according to AP text carried by The Seattle Times, The Boston Globe and PBS NewsHour. The Hill said the rally would take place on Wednesday night. NPR reported that Trump was expected to campaign with Graham even as the two are not in agreement on how best to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine, and Reuters described the rally as taking place in a tight Senate race amid a Russia rift. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
According to the AP text, some distance emerged between the Republican president and the senator over the weekend over his decision to waive Ukraine war sanctions on Russia that were set to be imposed under a law named after Lindsey Graham. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The AP text said Graham's stumbles in her first campaign since replacing her late brother have Democratic voters hopeful, but not necessarily optimistic, that their candidate can break Republicans' grip on the state. It said South Carolina is not typically a midterm battleground, but Trump has been deeply invested in Graham. He supported her appointment to replace Lindsey Graham after his death in July and backed her in a special primary against several more experienced Republican opponents. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Republicans want to make sure Annie Andrews, the Democratic nominee and a pediatrician, does not pull off an upset victory, the AP text said. More than $34 million has flowed into the race. Republicans have called Andrews a "radical liberal" and accused her of supporting surgeries for transgender minors, which she denies. The Hill said Graham is favored to win but faces a surprisingly strong challenge from Andrews. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The AP text said Trump is rallying every day this week for candidates across the country, even in conservative areas, and is urging voters to "pretend I'm on the ballot" in hopes of averting a lackluster midterm turnout for Republicans. In a fundraising appeal email, Andrews said: "Darline Graham knows that our campaign's momentum is so strong she called Donald Trump to come campaign for her in South Carolina." [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Lindsey Graham had been on a glide path to a fifth term when he died of an aortic tear, the AP text said. Darline Graham, a former director of the state agency for the blind, received bipartisan support when she was appointed to serve out her brother's term, but her decision to run for the seat in the midterms prompted skepticism that the political neophyte was up for the job. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The coverage describes a Senate race in a state that is not typically a midterm battleground but where Republicans are working to prevent an upset. It also shows a disagreement between the president and the senator over Russia sanctions, though the documents give no detail on how it might affect the race.
Key facts
- Trump is to campaign with Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina on Wednesday. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Graham replaced her late brother, Lindsey Graham, who died in July, and Trump supported her appointment. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Her Democratic opponent is Annie Andrews, a pediatrician. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- More than $34 million has flowed into the race. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Over the weekend, distance emerged between Trump and Graham over his decision to waive Ukraine war sanctions on Russia that were set to be imposed under a law named after Lindsey Graham. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The Hill said Graham is favored to win but faces a surprisingly strong challenge from Andrews. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Where in South Carolina the rally will be held. The documents give a Pendleton dateline for the AP story but do not say where the rally takes place.
- How the disagreement over Russia sanctions will affect the race. The documents describe the rift but do not report its effect on the campaign.
- How competitive the race is. Reuters called it a tight race and The Hill said Graham is favored but faces a surprisingly strong challenge; the available text gives no polling figures.
- More than $34 million has flowed into the South Carolina Senate race, in which Graham faces Democratic nominee Annie Andrews. Reported by a single source so far