Republicans loudly boo mention of Donald Trump after South Carolina primary
A crowd of diehard Republicans have loudly booed Donald Trump when his name was mentioned during a congressman’s concession speech.
Ralph Norman narrowly lost the South Carolina Senate primary election on Tuesday night (yesterday Australian time) to Darline Graham, who was endorsed by Trump.
Ralph Norman narrowly lost his Senate primary after Trump endorsed his opponent. AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins
“The president got involved. He has that right. That’s his prerogative,” Norman said during his speech.
The crowd started to jeer and boo at the mention of Trump.
“Y’all, his policies are good. I never understood why he got in this race,” Norman said.
Even though Trump endorsed Norman’s opponent, it is close to unprecedented for conservatives in the US to boo the mention of his name.
Norman was long the underdog for the Senate seat after Trump endorsed Graham.
But with nearly 370,000 votes cast in Tuesday’s election, Norman was just 18,000 short of claiming victory.
This morning Trump indicated he had endorsed Norman’s opponent because the congressman endorsed a different candidate in the 2024 presidential primary.
Donald Trump endorsed Darline Graham to replace her brother in the Senate. AP Photo/Meg Kinnard
“Ralph Norman had the look of a good Congressman (Not great, but good), but ruined his career when he endorsed Nikki Haley,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
But Norman’s overperformance in Tuesday’s election was credited in part to a major gaffe from Graham in a debate.
Graham was asked a relatively softball question about the South China Sea.
“I’m just going to be honest here, I’m not that informed on national security,” she said.
“I’m not a polished politician up here, national security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military.”
She mentioned her brother Lindsey’s military service.
Darline Graham had been appointed to the Senate seat after the unexpected death of her brother Lindsey.
She surprised pundits when she announced she would run for a full-term in November’s elections, at the behest of Trump.
Darline Graham said in a debate that “national security was not my thing”. AP Photo/Meg Kinnard
But questions were quickly raised about her lack of qualifications for the role.
Among those critical of Graham was Haley.
“Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States’ national security,” Haley said.
“Darline Graham admits she’s not. This is not something you inherit. And it’s critical in the US Senate.”
Nevertheless, Graham is heavily favoured to win the general election in November because South Carolina is so heavily Republican.
Her Democratic opponent Annie Andrews is a paediatrician who has also never held political office.
In her victory speech, Graham lambasted Andrews for wanting government-run health care, closer to Australia’s system.
“Bad idea after bad idea. Annie Andrews backs it all,” Graham said.
“My parents worked long, hard hours. If they were sick, they had to get up and go to work.
“My mother passed away when I was 11 and my father just over a year later.”
Annie Andrews is waging a long-shot bid to be the first Democrat in a generation to win a South Carolina Senate seat. AP Photo/Meg Kinnard
Andrews hit back, referring to Graham by her full surname, which she adapted after entering the Senate.
“Mrs. Graham Nordone says her family suffered and died without health care and apparently thinks yours should too,” Andrews said.
“Call me crazy, but as a doctor, I believe there are few responsibilities more fundamental to government than keeping its citizens healthy and safe.
“No family should have to suffer simply because generations before them did.”
The two will go head-to-head in the midterm general election on November 3.
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