A growing intraparty fracture is roiling the South Carolina Senate race as a Republican congressman is accusing President Donald Trump of trying to force his handpicked candidate on Palmetto State voters. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who lost to Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., in a runoff for the Senate GOP nomination earlier this year, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that he has no plans to help Graham in the final week before Election Day.
"The voters in S.C. are not buying the argument that everyone has to ‘settle’ for a candidate that has been propped up by special interest groups and a Republican president spending millions of dollars spreading false narratives about why Darlene [sic] Graham is qualified to be elected to the U.S. Senate for the next six years," Norman told Fox News Digital via text message in all capital letters. He said the general election "is about attempts to ‘force’ a candidate on the voters of S.C. and regardless of the outcome, it didn’t have to be this way as the great people living in South Carolina deserve ‘better!!’" TRUMP ENDORSEMENT BOOSTS SISTER OF LATE LINDSEY GRAHAM TO HISTORIC RUNOFF VICTORY "Elections have consequences," Norman ended the message.
It’s a pointed attack at the leader of the Republican Party just a week before voters decide who controls Congress for the final two years of Trump’s presidency. Graham, who was appointed to replace her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is running a closer-than-expected race in her Republican home state.
THE NINE KEY RACES THAT WILL DECIDE WHO CONTROLS THE SENATE, AND WHERE THEY STAND Norman said he would refuse to campaign with or for Graham, no matter who asked him to help. He told Fox News Digital her campaign manager had asked his chief of staff if he would campaign with her, but that Norman refused. That’s despite pressure from fellow House Republicans like Rep.
Russell Fry, R-S.C., who told reporters this week, "As somebody who carried the conservative banner as long as he has, he should step into the arena," according to POLITICO. Like Norman, Fry lost his own bid for the GOP nomination for the late senator’s seat. National Republicans are making the case for Graham, too, arguing that the GOP is united behind her.
"At the end of the day, Republicans are unified on beating Annie Andrews," Republican National Committee spokeswoman Emma Hall told Fox News Digital. "Democrats’ socialism has no place in South Carolina, and that’s why President Trump supports Darline Graham." SC DEM SENATE CANDIDATE CLAIMS SHE WILL STAND UP TO HER PARTY AS GRAHAM TIES HER TO 'SOCIALIST DEMOCRATS' Norman’s decision comes after a bitter, whirlwind primary where he ultimately lost to the political novice in August. Since then, Trump has returned to the Palmetto State to support Graham, holding a rally in Clemson, S.C., last week as election forecasters have signaled a more competitive race.
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