5 SC GOP Senate Candidates Split on Trump Loyalty and Iran War in Lindsey Graham Race
Updated
Updated · South Carolina Daily Gazette · Aug 4
5 SC GOP Senate Candidates Split on Trump Loyalty and Iran War in Lindsey Graham Race
3 articles · Updated · South Carolina Daily Gazette · Aug 4
Summary
Five of nine certified Republican candidates met the polling threshold for Monday’s televised South Carolina Senate debate, where the sharpest divide was whether a senator’s job is to back Donald Trump’s agenda without breaking ranks.
Darline Graham and Rep. Russell Fry gave an unequivocal yes, while former Gov. Mark Sanford argued a senator should sometimes oppose the president; Rep. Ralph Norman and businessman Mark Lynch backed Trump but said disagreement can still be useful.
Iran drew the clearest policy clash: Sanford said Congress must authorize war and Lynch called for bringing troops home, while Fry and Norman said Iran should be finished off without U.S. boots on the ground and Graham backed Trump and Israel.
The debate also doubled as a closing pitch on electability and biography, with Graham stressing she is 'not a politician,' Fry saying he 'earned' his record, and Lynch, Norman and Sanford leaning on business or governing experience.
The winner of the special GOP primary will become the party’s nominee for November to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.