Trump Campaigns in South Carolina for Sen. Darline Graham
President Trump is campaigning for Sen. Darline Graham (R) in South Carolina, a race that sources describe as central to Republican hopes of keeping the Senate majority.
President Trump is campaigning in South Carolina for Sen. Darline Graham (R), with a return visit to the state set for Thursday, according to The Hill's report on the state's Senate race. The outlet reported that this is his second trip to South Carolina in two weeks, and that the race poses one of the clearest tests of his continued sway over Republican voters while his popularity sinks across the political spectrum. The Hill's headline describes the contest as a "purest referendum" on Trump in the state.
The Associated Press, in a live broadcast carried by PBS NewsHour, reported that Trump is rallying in South Carolina for Graham. The AP report stated that holding the state is essential if Republicans have any hope of keeping their Senate majority. The broadcast was published on the same day as the other reports.
CBS News reported that Trump is campaigning for Graham as midterm races in Alaska and South Carolina heat up. In Alaska, CBS News said the state is investigating the campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola over a candidate who shares a name with the Republican incumbent. Ed O'Keefe and Weijia Jiang of CBS News reported on both developments in a video report on the midterm races.
The sources differ in emphasis. The Hill framed the South Carolina contest around Trump's standing with voters, the Associated Press framed it around the Senate majority, and CBS News placed it alongside the Alaska race. The available excerpts do not name Graham's opponent in South Carolina, and they do not say whether the Alaska investigation has produced any findings. The summary of The Hill's report is cut off before it finishes describing how Trump backed Graham, so the full account of his support is not available in the material reviewed for this story.
Sources: The Hill: Trump faces ‘purest referendum’ in South Carolina; PBS NewsHour: WATCH LIVE: Trump rallies in South Carolina for Sen. Darline Graham; CBS News: Midterm races in Alaska, South Carolina heat up as Trump steps in.