{"id":2648195,"date":"2026-08-22T07:10:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T11:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-nordone-leans-on-trump-to-rescue-senate-bid-after-debate-gaffe\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T07:12:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T11:12:10","slug":"graham-nordone-leans-on-trump-to-rescue-senate-bid-after-debate-gaffe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-nordone-leans-on-trump-to-rescue-senate-bid-after-debate-gaffe\/","title":{"rendered":"Graham Nordone leans on Trump to rescue Senate bid after debate gaffe"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgraham-nordone-leans-on-trump-to-rescue-senate-bid-after-debate-gaffe%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2648195&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator Darline graham Nordone of South Carolina is considering her political future, which may heavily depend on President Trump&#8217;s endorsement after she struggled in a recent debate against Rep. Ralph Norman. Having been appointed to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham&#8217;s seat, she admitted to being &#8220;not that informed on national security,&#8221; which raised concerns about her readiness.Despite her debate gaffe, including misstatements about South Carolina&#8217;s population and Norman&#8217;s record, she continues to seek support from prominent figures like Governor Henry McMaster and relies on notable campaign contributions and Trump&#8217;s backing. Political analysts suggest Trump&#8217;s endorsement could be pivotal,although some believe her recent mistakes and lack of experience could hinder her chances. The upcoming primary is seen as a critical test of Trump&#8217;s influence and her candidacy&#8217;s strength, with opinions divided on whether her campaign hurdles will ultimately matter to voters focused on broader issues.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/darline-graham-nordone\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23139\">Darline Graham Nordone<\/a>\u2018s (R-SC) political future may rest with President Donald Trump\u2019s endorsement after the senator stumbled during a special primary runoff debate against Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), intensifying questions about whether she is prepared for the job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graham Nordone, who was appointed to replace her brother <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"737\">Lindsey<\/a> after his death in July, told debate moderators on Tuesday that she is \u201cnot that informed on national security\u201d when she was asked if <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/taiwan\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1226\">Taiwan<\/a> and the South China Sea are national security issues for the United States.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4696875\/graham-nordone-leans-on-trump-rescue-senate-bid-after-debate-gaffe-russell-fry\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham Nordone leans on Trump to rescue Senate bid after debate gaffe<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4696531\/social-media-2026-primary-elections\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Can followers become voters? Social media gets a test in the 2026 primaries<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4697159\/trump-pleads-gop-voters-show-up-midterms\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump pleads with GOP voters to show up for midterm elections: \u2018Pretend I\u2019m on the ballot\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three days later, on Friday, Trump campaigned with her in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s endorsement track record remains strong, but at least 10 Trump-endorsed candidates have lost their contests so far this election cycle after two endorsed candidates in Florida and another in Wyoming lost their primaries earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It faces another test Tuesday, and South Carolina Republican strategist Dave Wilson said Trump is coming to South Carolina to \u201cseal the deal\u201d for Graham Nordone and \u201cit will be a real test as to whether or not he can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is a test of Donald Trump\u2019s endorsement strength because he diluted it in South Carolina by endorsing Alan Wilson when it was Alan and [Pamela Evette] in the runoff [election for governor], but he has now staked his ground,\u201d\u00a0Dave Wilson told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cHe staked his ground before [Graham Nordone] even announced.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilson underscored how Trump\u2019s endorsement is \u201cgoing to carry a lot of weight\u201d for Graham Nordone, in addition to public support from Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), whose district was the backdrop to Friday\u2019s rally, considering she is relatively unknown and made mistakes during the debate. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you take a look at the way the state\u2019s numbers broke down, Ralph Norman is really concentrating a lot of his efforts in areas of the state that are more conservative in the traditional sense, the Upstate and the Midlands,\u201d he said. \u201cThough she did win quite handily in the Midlands of South Carolina, picking up Russell Fry\u2019s endorsement could be the thing that carries her over the edge, in conjunction with Donald Trump\u2019s endorsement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov. Henry McMaster, who appointed Graham Nordone to the Senate, also endorsed her on Friday evening.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another Republican strategist, who was granted anonymity, argued that Trump\u2019s endorsement would help Graham Nordone \u201csome,\u201d but her \u201creal boost\u201d would be from \u201cthe millions of super PAC dollars that have shown up for her during the runoff [election].\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That includes $1.5 million from the Security is Strength PAC and $1.26 million from Palmetto Action, both of which supported her brother, supplementing money from Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, a clean energy group spending $1 million against Norman. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That strategist downplayed the political consequences of Graham Nordone\u2019s debate, adding that \u201cit didn\u2019t help Darline, but happened late enough in the race that not everyone is going to see it before heading to the polls Tuesday.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, the source conceded that Graham Nordone\u2019s \u201cthe gaffe confirmed [voters\u2019] greatest fear about her candidacy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the debate, Graham Nordone, a former vocational rehabilitation advocate before she was appointed to the Senate, also misspoke when asked about the population of South Carolina, saying it was 50 million people and not 5.5 million. She misrepresented, too some of Norman\u2019s policy positions, including that he did not vote for Trump\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill Act when he did on final passage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Norman is trying to use Graham Nordone\u2019s lack of experience against her, but she is simultaneously attempting to use his record against him, claiming, for example, that he has only renamed post offices during his five terms in Congress.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilson, the Republican strategist, repeated that Graham Nordone should have been better prepared for the debate, but contended that South Carolina voters \u201ccontinuously looked for people who can bring consensus together to make sure that [the state] is taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s going to take a lot of lift from Ralph Norman to say that somebody who has been a bit of a \u2026 somebody who has been focused on fighting against the system, is actually going to fix the system,\u201d he said. \u201cRalph Norman has taken more of a hardline stance, that kind of Freedom Caucus stance, versus what are we going to do to find the ways to find common ground somewhere in the middle? Which was the big criticism that hard right Republicans had of Lindsey Graham \u2026 that he would always float back to the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, Wilson continued, \u201cI don\u2019t think the heart of the core Republican primary voter is 100% hardline.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Carolina Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright agreed more generally with the two Republican strategists that Trump\u2019s endorsement will likely \u201csave\u201d Graham Nordone from \u201cfurther embarrassment\u201d because \u201cit will still bring about a certain sense of loyalty\u201d from \u201ca certain segment of the modern day\u201d GOP.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf she can split or eat into [Norman\u2019s] coalition outside of Myrtle Beach or Orange County, I think that\u2019s going to determine whether or not she\u2019s successful and, demographically, what type of conservative shows up,\u201d Seawright told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4695048\/scott-jennings-cnn-experience-press-secretary-sweepstakes\/\"><strong>CNN CLASHES BUILT SCOTT JENNINGS FOR THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM. BUT IS THE RISK WORTH THE REWARD?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former South Carolina Republican Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) thinks the Graham Nordone\u2019s gaffe may not matter in the end and that it\u2019ll come down to what\u2019s on the mind of voters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe question is \u2018What\u2019s on the minds of the voters?\u2019\u201d Inglis told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThe war in Iran is unpopular. Voters just want it to stop. They want the price of gasoline to go down. It doesn\u2019t take a whole lot of expertise on that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Graham Nordone\u2019s fate hinges on Trump\u2019s backing after debate slip<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2652,"featured_media":2648196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26231034688561.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5894,3740,3634],"class_list":["post-2648195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-politics","tag-senate","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26231034688561.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2652"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2648195"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2648199,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648195\/revisions\/2648199"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2648196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2648195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2648195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2648195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}