The South Carolina Senate race between Darline Graham and Ralph Norman will be very interesting to watch as the runoff date arrives soon, August 25th.
Darline Graham is supported by President Trump, the NRSCC, the professional republican class and the new endorsement from the 3rd place candidate Russell Fry. Additionally, Darline Graham has been endorsed by Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Tim Scott and other very well-known Republican brand names.
Mrs Graham has also picked up a $1 million Super-PAC donation from the leftist “Invest in Tomorrow Coalition” a clean energy and climate change advocacy group. They will be running ads against Ralph Norman.
That said, CTH has a strong hunch that Ralph Norman is going to win. There’s an internal poll showing Norman with a 12-point advantage (52/40); however, that’s not the strongest indicator.
A very unscientific review of voter sentiment visible on social media reflects a profound rejection of the Lindsey Graham legacy vote. While it is entirely possible those voices are just more algorithmically visible than Darline Graham supporters, there sure are a lot of South Carolina republican voters willing to support Ralph Norman over Graham.
It’s weird because no one seems overly enthusiastic for either candidate but voting Norman over Graham appears to be the least bad option. Darline Graham’s record working for leftist NGOs has many people rejecting her as an option.
What are your thoughts?
It is possible this race may be in the loss column for President Trump’s endorsement record.
Here in NH we call this a real shit situation.
It’s hard to have any sympathy though because they all could have chosen a real Republican candidate and they chose Lindsay’s sister thinking it’s her turn.. and for no reason at all other than that.
This is certainly not the best way to choose your representation while your nation is at war.
It’s all based on emotions. Darline is the emotional pick. So many go the emotional route versus the common sense way.
If you tell a liberal that you are headed to Planned Parenthood to get an abortion they will applaud you. If you tell them you are taking your pregnant dog to the vet to get the puppies aborted they will scream murder.
Our wartime leader, President Trump, chose Lindsay’s sister. Having paid attention to him, I believe it was based on more than just whose turn it was, and I tend to support his requests unless I have a valid reason not to. In this particular instance, I’d have to choose someone who actively fought against him relatively recently not to.
As an aside, I just found out that if I Google “Ralph Norman Nikki Haley,” no automatic results appear. And when I hit enter, every story is about her endorsing him.
Choose wisely, South Carolina.
There is no wise choice to make. They are both poison pills.
“THEY” don’t think they are at war……they don’t even know we are at war………they think they are in control, they just need to ride out Trump’s term….and their club….the establishment will survive and be stronger than ever!
They have no idea we are for their rear ends and we want them not just gone….but held accountable.
They don’t think that’s ever going to happen.
Hell….there’s many out here like us that don’t think it’s ever going to happen.
But…..I still think it will!
Dan – I truly hope you are correct.
I will let SC voters decide this one. Hopefully she is not squishy like Collins and Murkowski once she is in and more like Marsha. Hopefully he is not like McConnell or any of the other secret RINOs that just infuriate me and more like Rick Scott who I feel is definitely MAGA
Yep, leaving it up to the SC voters is how it goes. Funny though, how many have piled on to support her without knowing anything about her, except that she was Lindsey’s sister.
The Rolling Stones had a good song for this situation – “Sympathy for the Devil.” Which is always in the details.
Rick Scott??? former Florida Governor??? The same Rick Scott that bowed to obama’s demands and ordered Bondi to prosecute Zimmerman even though the local Sheriff and the local Police Chief investigated and determined that Zimmerman was innocent because he was defending himself???
And the same Rick Scott that called a special session for new gun control laws after Parkland.
Welcome to FL 🚩 laws.
Voldemort!
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/remember-rick-scotts-massive-medicare-fraud-scandal-40512411/
Sundance said Tim Scott, the other South Carolina Senator. You know, the black guy.
Norman here
It depends on what Clyburn wants.
That how it goes in our state.
I don’t give a crap what Clyburn thinks. And I don’t think Norman gives a crap what he thinks either. It was Clyburn that pumped new life back into Obiden’s campaign back in 2020 when it was all but DOA. Clyburn can go to hell.
I despise the practice of legacy seats in the House and the Senate. It’s the peoples’ seats, not politicians and their families.
Same here. The lack of humility in those supposedly grieving and who are most often unqualified, is unbecoming to put it gently.
Norman has fewer RINO credentials than Graham with the glaring exception of endorsing Nikki Haley for President in 2024.
How anyone billed as “the most conservative” voice in Congress could justify such an action without calling into question his true leaning is difficult to swallow.
Supporting a legacy candidate who venerated her brother’s careeer and vowed to carry on his policies however, is even more distasteful. President Trump’s major weakness in his second term continues to be an often misguided personal loyalty in endorsing legacy candidates (often for those who have no such reciprocal sentiments for him) instead of decisions founded in what’s really best in the long run.
Bad choices. As always. Norman for the shortest duration of puking while pulling the lever.
It’s getting to where I doubt Trump ………….. frequently ………… everyday.
I wonder spending so much of your time everyday doubting President trump that you have no time at all doubting the Dumbocrats? Hmmmm. You’re not fooling anybody!!
Trump with a capital T.
Turn off your tv
I do question his judgement sometimes when it comes to endorsing candidates or picking people for vacant positions in his administration.
No more Graham crackers!
That will go down alongside Jesse Jackson’s “Stay. Out. da Bushes!”.
Just as Fox News works as controlled opposition for the democrat party, Lindsey Graham worked his republican senate seat as controlled opposition for the democrat party. Sister Darline appears to be poised and ready to pick up the mantle where her brother left off.
What’s happening in this South Carolina Senate race is yet another example in the long chain of abuses inflicted on the American voters with the passing of the 17th Amendment. Within the South Carolina Senate there are forty six state senators, any one of which being exponentially more qualified to fill Lindsey’s loafers than his sister.
Agree, but them’s some light loafers!
The State may vote you in, but EVERY State lives and pays for the outcome of your votes!
I could not care less about a Trump endorsement at this point. I disliked Grahmnesty & his BFF McShame.
So vote for Ralph, imo.
SSDD
Upstate SC here…I haven’t talked to one person that is voting Darline. Hopefully, Trump does get the L here. He made a mistake here for sure.
I voted for my Rep. Russell Fry, he is proven MAGA.
There’s something fishy about the Trump endorsement for Graham.
I remember the president saying when he supported her with McMaster to fill Lindsey’s term that she wasn’t interested in running for the seat herself. She was a place holder. Oh really?
I think he knew. I think there’s a bad motivation at the root of this endorsement.
Rep. Fry is the reason we didn’t get a reprieve on SC gas tax. He is also why we still have the gerrymandered seat that gives us Clyburn. Stop listening to what he says and watch what he does.
Trump is wise to “endorse” Lindsey’s sister as her inherited staff is where the power really lives. A good example of staff power, look at McConnell, where we have a dead, not-quite-dead Republican Senator with a staunch Democrat for a governor. Yet all we get is a seriously worded letter, while McConnell’s staff run the operation.
You are quite correct, the true power is in with the staffers. Here is Lindsey and Darlenes COS, Richard Perry. Iif you think they are, they are. https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/sen-graham-s-right-hand-man-aiken-native-serves-as-presidential-hopeful-s-chief-of/article_3898f43f-ba71-5508-8bd6-288e0acae7aa.html
He damn sure made a mistake in Ohio too.
Darlene’s support is coming primarily from the midlands and the low country counties.
Why is he endorsing these kind of people?
Bad advice from “trusted” advisors!
Exactly so. I am voting for Norman because he’s “the least worst” candidate left.
Russell Fry is my congressman and I voted for him. I don’t believe the SC Republican Party has the best interests of South Carolina at heart.
When was the last time they had our best interests at heart? I can’t remember!
A personal perspective here…
After 5 years living in Northern SC (just outside Charlotte NC), I can tell you my perspective as a Treehouse Wolverine:
Good info. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Well, that is a bit of good news.
My thoughts are, what the hell was President Trump thinking?
Yes, the entire Miss Lindsey escapade needs to come to an end. I have no say in the outcome but hoping Norman wins.
I liked Trump better before he was close pals with the warmonger Lyndsey Graham.
Another one of Trumps idiot moves.
This will be Trump’s first endorsement loss.
I am excited to vote for Ralph Norman for two main reasons.
1. He is decidedly conservative and has the record to prove it.
2. He is already old, which means SC won’t have another senator people vote for as a “legacy” candidate.
3. Bonus: the SC GOP did not want Norman as their candidate. As a rebellious free-thinker, that makes me for eager to vote for him.
Candidates should be chosen each election based on their core values, not based on the lesser of two evils.
Ralph Norman also stood with Frontline Doctors at the start of the plandemic.
Wow, I never heard of any state official standing with Frontline Doctors at the beginning of the fake pandemic! To me that is a sign of integrity that is very seriously MIA from Congress.
It is but one criteria upon which to vote for him, but maybe other criteria in which he showed unusual integrity will emerge. Thank you for explaining this.
Ok. Treepers are the best.
Can’t vote for Norman but I can send him a few bucks.
I love PDJT but this was not a good pick.
A turn has no clean end.
More of the same
Never a Graham fan bc of his relationship with McCain and their many trips to Ukraine pledging support. Sorry to mess up your run rate on endorsements, Mr.. President, but Ms. Darline is a RINO!!!
MAGA is up to its YUGE elephant ears with them.
I live in SC. Fry is my Rep. He’s pro Trump all the way. Good voting record too! BUT
The sooner we replace the name Graham, the sooner we may be able to forgive his recalcitrance.
And Tim Scott? Did he get a vacation from the Waffle House he’s been hiding in? He needs to go as well.
Two RINOs – Norman and Grahamnesty’s sister. The RINOs and Neocons in the establishment Republicraps Party have a stranglehold on South Carolina. That is why we keep churning out useless canidates like Grahamnesty, Haley, Scott, Mace, Gowdy, Inglis, Pasco, and Evette.
Norman is not a rino. Look at his vote rating. You are falling for the paid lynnsy tripe.
I detest the Devine right that the professional political class has.
Darline Graham is nothing but nepotism (not exactly correct, but close enough).
As a placeholder – I am ok with that.
As an elected Senator, she would be bought and paid for by RINOS Inc and the UniParty. The “nepotism” is intolerable.
PDJT is extremely intelligent, but of necessity is surrounded by advisors and they don’t always give the best advice. One of those advisors is Sean Duffy – Transportation Secretary.
That is why the 7th Congressional District in Wisconsin is now saddled with a 26 year old young man who brings almost nothing to the table in terms of qualifications & life experience. Why?
Because he is Sean Duffy’s son-in-law. That got him PDJT’s endorsement. That is the only reason he will replace Tom Tiffany in Congress.
This is the same PAC that funded Charles Hatcher in TN District 5 in the primary against incombent Andy Ogles. That PAC is a left greenie group. Hatcher is a local legacy farmer who has a dairy with a strong presence in Williamson County. The PAC was vicious in it’s attacks on Ogles. Lots of ads which used inuendo and out of context statements.
Voter turn out is always low – less than 25% in a solid red district. We now have what I’m guessing to be a rep who will be pro amnesty and anti Trump. Hatcher’s endorsements were all by spineless RINO’s which includes Gov Bill Lee.
Ogles is a huge loss for MAGA.
Perhaps he could replace Karoline.
It’s giving me pause since Murkowski has endorsed her. Not good
I was neither hot nor cold where Lindsey Graham was concerned.
I know nothing about his sister or Ralph Northam.
The sister is unknown, as far as I can tell, other than being Lindsey’s sister.
Northam is unknown to me, but it sounds like he might be a squishy conservative.
Norman is my rep in Upstate SC. He is anything but a squish or a RINO. If anything, he has voted against Trump while trying to make bills more conservative. Once he has used his leverage, he does vote with Trump. IMPO, he has won stronger conservative policies by his action. Ralph Norman came won his seat as a Tea Party Conservative fighting the out of control government spending against a 30 year democrat incumbent who was the chairman of the budget committee and the deciding vote for Obamacare even though he knew that his district did not want it. My 1 beef with him was his endorsement of Nikki Hailey. His self reported reasoning was that they had been personal friends for decades when they were both in the SC House as Congresspersons. I will be voting for Ralph Norman.
I didn’t like Lyndsey………I think he was a rat. His sister….working for leftists……..makes her a rat and not just by relationship…but by her actions.
But, Trump is backing her and I back Trump.
I think Trump says things….may even do things because of optics…..but down under he thinks, believes, or is doing something entirely different.
Darline the Grifter had to drop her last name to run. Any questions?
President Trump rewards loyalty. An admirable trait, but his endorsement of Lindsay’s sister because of Lindsay’s loyalty is just plain wrong. Lindsay was a warmonger, and though a friend of the President, he was not loved by true conservatives, MAGA.
And I despise nepotism! I’ve seen it practised to the point of the Peter Principle.
I wouldn’t vote for anybody simply because they were the previous officeholder’s sibling. That relationship has nothing to do with doing the job correctly.
So I think this was an effort to position Norman as voters’ only option, unless you want to vote for some far-left democrat parasite. I think it’s a sleazy move by the SC Republican party to subvert the will of the people.
Social worker = more sympathy spending. With RINOs Murkowski and Scott and Climate Change fanatics lobbying $ ???
RUN FOR THE HILLS !
At least we KNOW who Norman is. We CANNOT AFFORD a possible RINO. Being new to Washington DC the Uniparty is already setting their sights to latch onto and “guide” Darlene.
VOTE NORMAN.
Replacing one elderly RINO with another is not moving forward.
I am baffled at the willingness and ability of people to instinctively vote for the Sister of an idiot and think that she won’t be just as much of an idiot… I am baffled…
I pray Ralph Norman wins. But you never know with SC. It’s a strange corrupt state.
I never quite trusted Lindsay, he always seemed to be running his own game when it came to foreign policy. And I sure don’t trust his sister if she’s taking money from climate change/clean energy activists.
Sure hope so! As well as Byron (Data Center) Donalds!
Norman is a god old boy Southern politician, straight out of Central Casting.
I don’t know SC and Darline talks a good game but we know that is what RINOs do to get their trojan horse through the gate. Then they turn into a MurkMcThune. I for one, was glad politically to see Lindsay move on, with my only disappointment that it was not a MurkMcThune instead. If I lived in SC there is NFW I would vote for Darline based just on endorsements, PAC money and succession expectations alone. Enough Graham Crackers for my lifetime. Regardless of her qualifications and sincerity I don’t think Trump is reading the room well but he is still the man we need to lead the nation. A loss in his endorsement column would be a good MAGA course correction message for SC to send him and Senate RINOs.
Georgia is in the same situation with the Governor race. Democrat Kiesha Lance Bottoms or Republican Rick Jackson, both the bottom of the barrel. If these are the best candidates we must choose from, something is very wrong with the voting/selection process. Good people cannot rise to the top. The Uniparty controls our selections.
Also, How is it that Lindsay Graham’s sister got Trump’s support? I’ve been very disappointed in His 2nd term so far. He went way too far down the War path with Israel and their donors. He has screwed up the recovery, and his picks for offices have been disappointing for the most part. Have to wonder who has his ear besides BB and Miriam?
The question is why is Trump endorsing her? Is a false facade to appease the enemies within the party when he actually knows she will lose?
I never understood President Trump’s friendliness to and support of Graham. I hope Norman wins.
Trump is many times his own worst enemy.
An imperfect savior indeed
Lindsey has already received his judgement, the only one that matters.
We neither owe nor need anymore from this man or his political nepotism, with this RINO sibling.
Bye now. Can’t they ever be happy just counting the money they screwed us over, and bow out peacefully.
If Lindsey essentially raised her, why is she a democrat?
If I lived in SC (my daughter is moving there so…) I wouldn’t vote for her based on the NGO stuff. I’m not a purist, but we need to draw a line somewhere. Leftist NGOs are an enemy and taking money from or working with them is a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
I am so tired of the lack of humility in widows of politicians who have no qualifications for holding office, yet decide to take their deceased’s position anyway. It’s smacks of unbounded hubris and ego. And these days, to that we can add greed.
SC and the nation dies not benefit from the perpetuation of dynasties.
I’ll note that all of the local conservative talk-radio hosts out of the SC Upstate (Greenville) support Norman.