South Carolina's Only General-Election Senate Debate Held as Race Tightens
South Carolina's only general-election debate in the U.S. Senate race took place Sunday night, Oct. 11, at the SCETV studio in Columbia. Incumbent Republican Sen. Darline Graham, Democratic challenger and Charleston pediatrician Annie Andrews, and Libertarian candidate Cathy Whitener sparred over health care, the Iran war, data centers, and immigration.
Andrews deliberately distanced herself from the Democratic left, stressing support for the Second Amendment, border security, deporting illegal immigrants, and tax cuts for the middle class, and seized on Graham's earlier remark that "national security is not my strong suit" to question her fitness. Graham defended her conservative record and alignment with Trump and declined Andrews' challenge for a second debate.
The race drew national attention after Graham was appointed to fill the seat following the death of her brother, former Sen. Lindsey Graham, on July 11. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report downgraded the seat from "Solid R" to "Likely R" on Sept. 23, national GOP groups have committed about $5 million, and Trump has endorsed Graham. The election is Nov. 3.
Source: CNN.
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Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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