Donald Trump told a crowd of supporters in South Carolina to pretend he was on the ballot as he campaigned in Myrtle Beach to rally support for Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham.
Trump appeared at the high-stakes campaign event to deliver a last-minute push for Graham, who faces a tight Republican primary runoff election on Tuesday against Representative Ralph Norman.
Addressing the audience in Myrtle Beach, a coastal city in eastern South Carolina, Trump urged every voter to turn out at the polls. "You have to get out and vote," Trump said. "And we need every South Carolina patriot to go to the polls and vote for Darline Graham."
Trump acknowledged during the rally that Republican candidates have historically lagged at the ballot box during elections when his own name is not on the ballot.
"What I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I'm on the ballot, just come and vote, it's so important," Trump told the crowd. "Just say that I'm on the ballot one more time and you gotta' come out and vote."
During his speech, Trump highlighted his second-term accomplishments, mocked his political opponents as "Dumocrats," and chuckled when security personnel removed a heckler from the crowd.
The rally in South Carolina underscores how Trump is putting his political leverage on the line, turning the Republican runoff into a direct test of his influence over voters in the state.
Appointment and Senate Runoff Race
Graham, who is the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was appointed to temporarily fill her brother's seat following his death. She is now campaigning to win a full six-year term in the United States Senate.
Trump backed Graham early in the contest, persuading her to launch her candidacy before she made her formal announcement.
After the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, who represented South Carolina in the Senate for more than two decades, Trump threw his full support behind Darline Graham, urging her to step forward and carry on her brother's legacy in the Senate.
In the initial Republican primary election held on August 11, Graham led Norman in total votes but failed to clear the 50 percent threshold required by state election law to avoid a runoff.
Graham entered the stage at the Myrtle Beach rally to music, pumping her fist and dancing briefly before outlining her record serving South Carolinians as the head of a state agency.
Confronting criticism from opponents who argue she lacks the political experience needed for federal office, Graham rejected the charge during her speech.
"Now, the critics say I shouldn't run for the Senate. They say I'm not a politician. You know what I say? Guilty as charged," Graham said.
Debate Stumble and Foreign Policy Scrutiny
Graham drew direct parallels between her background and Trump's political career, noting that Trump had never been elected to public office before winning the presidency.
"I think he's done a damn good job," Graham said of Trump.
She urged rally attendees to vote for her in Tuesday's runoff election against Representative Norman and requested that each supporter "take 10 friends with you" to the polls.
The winner of the Republican runoff will advance to the November general election to face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, with Republicans heavily favored in the traditionally conservative state.
However, Graham's campaign suffered a damaging blow earlier in the week following a televised candidate debate.
During Tuesday's televised debate, moderator Greta Van Susteren asked Graham whether Taiwan and the South China Sea represented national-security issues for the United States. Graham acknowledged during the broadcast that she was "not that informed" on national-security issues.
The admission quickly became the defining moment of the debate, giving Norman a clear opening to argue that voters need a more experienced senator.
Representative Norman seized on the opportunity to call out Graham on her lack of security knowledge on social media platform X, writing that the state "deserves a candidate who understands foreign policy."
"South Carolina deserves a Senator who understands Foreign Policy. I'm a peace through strength supporter! No more forever wars!" Norman wrote on X.
Trump Defends Candidate Amid Economic Focus
Graham has defended her debate response as a willingness to learn, arguing that South Carolina voters are more concerned with issues closer to home, including the economy and health care.
Trump also defended the remark when asked about it by reporters earlier on Friday.
"She's very smart. She's into the price of groceries. She is going to do what the military wants, and really what the president wants. She understands that national security is my thing. I thought it was a very honest answer," Trump said.
Despite Trump's defense, the episode has intensified scrutiny of Graham's qualifications at precisely the moment her campaign needs to reassure Republican voters.
Graham also stumbled on the affordability crisis during the debate, telling the audience that 50 million people in South Carolina were living paycheck to paycheck. South Carolina has around 5.5 million residents.
Endorsements and Electoral Track Record
Graham has been racing to introduce herself to voters across South Carolina while repeatedly insisting she is "not a politician."
The Trump loyalist has made his agenda central to her campaign pitch, frequently highlighting her support for his policies and his endorsement of her candidacy.
She has also pointed to her years running a state agency as proof that she is prepared for the Senate.
Among the priorities Graham has put front and center are Trump's push for tougher border security and the SAVE Act, the Republican-backed voting bill that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has also backed Graham in the primary contest.
Representative Russell Fry, who finished third in the August 11 Republican primary, endorsed Graham ahead of the August 25 runoff.
Trump's endorsement has not been a guaranteed ticket to victory during this election cycle, with a string of his hand-picked candidates falling at the Republican primary hurdle.
Among the prominent names to stumble were Mike Lindell, Andy Ogles, and Cory Mills, underscoring the limits of Trump's political influence.
Trump's previous endorsement of Pamela Evette in the South Carolina governor's race also raised questions about his political judgment.
Though Trump initially backed Evette, once polls indicated candidate Wilson held an advantage, Trump moved to offer a late dual endorsement, which critics viewed as an effort to save face.
