RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Sen. Darline Graham fumbled a question on national security in the South Carolina GOP Senate debate, admitting she was "not that informed on national security" and neglecting to answer a question about Taiwan and the South China Sea. \u00a0The novice senator is beginning her sixth week on the job, having been appointed to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham\u0027s seat two days after his sudden death on July 11. Lack of experience is one of the primary criticisms facing her campaign. At Tuesday\u0027s debate, Rep. Ralph Norman, her GOP opponent who also advanced to the runoff behind Graham in the Aug. 11 primary, called her an "unknown candidate" while also representing mainstream Washington."I\u0027m just going to be honest here," Graham answered when asked if Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security issues for the United States. "I\u0027m not that informed on national security, so \u2014 but I do support the military."To the same question, Norman cited the importance of Taiwan\u0027s chip production and said, "what the president is doing right is he\u0027s enabling Taiwan to defend themselves against China."Graham later called China a national security threat, advocating for "any type of bans against China" from AI to farmland, and she also fielded questions on Iran and Israel.\u00a0The candid revelation, however, has still drawn scrutiny.\u00a0"Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States\u0027 national security," former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley wrote on X. "Darline Graham admits she\u0027s not. This is not something you inherit. And it\u0027s critical in the U.S. Senate."The Democratic nominee for the Senate seat also chimed in.\u00a0"Darline Graham Nordone is asking for six years as South Carolina\u0027s senator \u2014 during wartime \u2014 yet has the gall to tell voters \u0027national security isn\u0027t my thing,\u0027" Dr. Annie Andrews wrote. "South Carolina deserves better."Graham is backed by President Trump.\u00a0While Lindsey Graham was focused on foreign policy and national security, having returned from a trip to Ukraine to visit President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a day before his death, his sister has vowed to focus on issues affecting South Carolinians. She told CBS News\u0027 Mark Strassmann last week that "affordability is a number one issue, definitely for me."\u00a0Both candidates conveyed strong conservative beliefs and did not vastly differ in their policies. They pledged loyalty to Mr. Trump, agreed Iran was a threat, recognized Israel as an ally and advocated for the SAVE America Act and a ban on birthright citizenship.Graham ended the night on a fiery note, responding to Norman\u0027s criticism that she canceled a second debate.\u00a0"I\u0027d rather be out in South Carolina meeting the voters than here on this stage with you," Graham chirped back.She then touted her work in the Senate thus far, including helping pass the Russia Sanctions Bill, co-sponsoring the SAVE America Act and casting a key vote to confirm Attorney General Todd Blanche.\u00a0"I\u0027ve done more in 20 days than you have done in 20 years," Graham said.\u00a0The runoff for the Republican nominee will be held on Aug. 25.\u00a0
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