Tim Scott Defends Darline Graham Before Aug. 25 Runoff as Taiwan Debate Flub Fuels Doubts
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 23
Tim Scott Defends Darline Graham Before Aug. 25 Runoff as Taiwan Debate Flub Fuels Doubts
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 23
Summary
Tim Scott said Sunday that Darline Graham is prepared to serve in the Senate, pushing back on questions about her national security credentials two days before South Carolina’s Republican runoff.
Tuesday’s debate triggered the scrutiny when Graham said she was “not that informed on national security” and that “national security is not my thing” in response to a question on Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Scott, speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, said a senator should understand national security and insisted Graham does, but he did not cite specific experience in the area.
Graham was appointed after Lindsey Graham’s sudden death in July and had worked in South Carolina public policy roles, though she had never previously run for or held public office.
Donald Trump has also backed Graham, rallying for her on Friday and calling her debate answer “a very honest answer” as she faces Congressman Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s runoff.