Original Broadcaster Captioning (Enhanced). Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:00:00AND VOTE. I THINK THEY ARE EXCITED.
00:00:04THE ELECTRICITY WE HAVE HAD HAS BEEN GREAT. >> DO YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST DAY
00:00:08PLANNED OUT? REP. NORMAN: I WILL HAVE TO GET
00:00:12THROUGH THE NIGHT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.
00:00:16. THE SAVE ACT IS TOP OF THE AGENDA. NUKING THE FILIBUSTER IS ANOTHER THING.
00:00:20>> YOU HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR TONIGHT?
00:00:25REP. NORMAN: I DO.
00:00:26>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WITH
00:00:31NEARLY EIGHT HOURS LEFT TO VOTE, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO VOTERS?
00:00:36REP. NORMAN: I APPRECIATE PEOPLE TAKING PART IN THE PROCESS.
00:00:40I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A HIGHER VOTING PERCENTAGE NOT JUST IN
00:00:43THIS ELECTION. .
00:00:47THIS IS DEMOCRACY AT WORK. YOUR VOTE MATTERS. I WOULD SAY GET OUT AND VOTE AND
00:00:50LET YOUR VOTE'S -- YOUR VOICE BE
00:00:54HEARD. WE ARE MAKING A DECISION FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS. THIS IS NOT SOMEBODY YOU CAN
00:00:58PICK AND CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE.
00:01:03I'M EXCITED ABOUT SERVING AND GOING TO THE SENATE AND SEEING
00:01:07WHAT I CAN DO.
00:01:09>> NOW, THE RESULTS OF TODAY'S
00:01:15REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION FOR U.S. SENATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE INCUMBENT
00:01:17DARLINE GRAHAM, WHO HAS BEEN IN
00:01:20OFFICE FOR JUST OVER A MONTH, IS RUNNING AGAINST CURRENT CONGRESSMAN RALPH NORMAN.
00:01:24THE LATEST POLLS SHOW THE RACE IS A DEAD HEAT.
00:01:30NEXT, LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RESULTS, COURTESY OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S ETV.
00:02:15>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO
00:02:18SOUTH CAROLINA ETV AND SOUTH
00:02:19CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIOS LIVE
00:02:22STATEWIDE COVERAGE OF THE U.S. SENATE SPECIAL REPUBLICAN PRIMARY. I'M GAVIN JACKSON.
00:02:27THE POLLS CLOSED AN HOUR AGO AND NUMBERS ARE STARTING TO COME IN.
00:02:30HERE ARE THE LATEST.
00:02:33SENATOR DARLINE GRAHAM 54% AND
00:02:37RALPH NORMAN AT 46%, ABOUT 26%
00:02:40OF THE VOTE COUNTED.
00:02:42SO FAR IT'S STILL VERY EARLY.
00:02:46THOSE ARE JUST INITIAL NUMBERS
00:02:48WITH SENATOR DARLINE LEADING
00:02:52CONGRESSMAN NORMAN AT ABOUT EIGHT POINTS. WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THAT ALL
00:02:56NIGHT AND WE HAVE REPORTERS AT WATCH PARTIES AROUND THE STATE.
00:02:59LIKE EVERY ELECTION NIGHT, WE ONLY DECLARE WINNERS WHEN THE
00:03:02ASSOCIATED PRESS CALLS THEM, SO STANDBY.
00:03:07THIS IS A SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION WHICH DETERMINES WHICH
00:03:10CANDIDATE WILL APPEAR ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT IN LIEU OF LATE
00:03:14SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, WHO DIED FROM A HEART CONDITION 45 DAYS AGO.
00:03:18GRAHAM WON THE NOMINATION ON JUNE 9 AS HE SOUGHT HIS FIFTH TERM.
00:03:23SENATOR DARLINE GRAHAM AND FIFTH
00:03:26DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN RALPH NORMAN WERE THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS FROM THE PRIMARY OUT OF THE FIELD OF 10.
00:03:31THEY ARE FACING OFF IN A CLOSE RACE.
00:03:35WE HAVE REPORTERS AT SENATOR DARLINE GRAHAM'S WATCH PARTY IN
00:03:37COLUMBIA AND ROCK HILL WITH CONGRESSMAN RALPH NORMAN.
00:03:43WE ALSO HAVE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA POLITICAL SCIENCE
00:03:46PROFESSOR DR. KIRK RANDAZZO IN STUDIO FOR HIS ANALYSIS.
00:03:50WE JUST SAW THOSE NUMBERS. WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO YOU RIGHT NOW?
00:03:55KIRK: IT'S KIND OF SURPRISING TO
00:03:58SEE SENATOR GRAHAM JUMP OUT TO THAT EARLY LEAD. THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR HER
00:04:02CAMPAIGN. I SAY THIS IN LIEU OF THE DEBATE
00:04:06LAST WEEK, SHE HAD A NOTABLE
00:04:10MISTAKE THAT RALPH NORMAN SEEMED
00:04:11TO SEIZE UPON, POTENTIALLY CAPITALIZE ON.
00:04:16BUT SHE ALSO HAD PRESIDENT TRUMP
00:04:18COME TO THE STATE, DELIVER THAT
00:04:20RALLY ON FRIDAY, AND MAY THAT
00:04:23HAS GALVANIZED SOME OF HER SUPPORTERS TO GET OUT.
00:04:29AS YOU SAID, THIS IS GOING TO BE A TIGHT RACE.
00:04:32IT'S TOO CLOSE TO CALL AT THIS POINT AND I EXPECT TO SEE THOSE
00:04:36NUMBERS CONTINUE TO FLUCTUATE. GAVIN: LAST TIME WE WERE ON THE
00:04:39AIR TWO WEEKS AGO -- EVERY TWO
00:04:43WEEKS I HAVE BEEN SEEING YOU. THE LIVE COVERAGE OF THE LATE
00:04:47SENATOR'S FUNERAL, THEN TWO
00:04:48WEEKS AGO WE WERE DOING COVERAGE OF THE PRIMARY NIGHT.
00:04:53EARLY ON AROUND 8:30 THEY WERE CALLING DARLINE AS THE FIRST
00:04:57PLACE WINNER, THEN CONGRESSMAN NORMAN LATER IN THE HOUR.
00:05:01I DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS EARLY TONIGHT. THOSE NUMBERS ARE ONLY GETTING
00:05:05CLOSER THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.
00:05:07OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT THE DEBATE PERFORMANCE LAST TUESDAY.
00:05:12THAT'S WHERE WE WERE LAST TUESDAY NIGHT, ON THE DEBATE
00:05:15STAGE WITH THE SENATOR, WITH THE CONGRESSMAN.
00:05:18THE MOMENT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH DARLINE AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESPONSE.
00:05:23HAVE THE CANDIDATES DONE WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO, MAY BE THE
00:05:27SIDES? HAVE YOU -- HAVE THEY BEEN
00:05:30RUNNING THE RACE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS?
00:05:35KRIK: GIVEN HOW TIGHT THE CYCLE HAS BEEN, THEY HAVE DONE THE
00:05:39BEST THEY CAN, CANVASSING ACROSS THE STATE.
00:05:42THE ONE DEBATE WAS THE TIME THEY
00:05:45GOT TO FACE OFF TOGETHER, BUT I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THE MEETINGS.
00:05:50THEY HAVE HAD THEIR GROUPS OUT
00:05:52CANVASSING, KNOCKING ON DOORS.
00:05:55THEY HAVE HAD PUBLIC SPEECHES.
00:05:58THE ISSUE IS, SINCE WE ONLY HAD
00:06:01TWO WEEKS, THAT IS SUCH A TIGHT
00:06:04TIMELINE THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET A COORDINATED MESSAGE OUT.
00:06:06GAVIN: AND MAYBE DO DAMAGE CONTROL FOR THAT DEBATE
00:06:11PERFORMANCE, WHICH WE CAN TALK ABOUT MORE ANTS TALK ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S APPEARANCE IN MYRTLE BEACH.
00:06:16BUT FIRST, WE ARE GOING TO THE
00:06:19GRAHAM WATCH PARTY IN COLUMBIA. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM FOLKS?
00:06:22>> THIS IS ACTUALLY AN ELECTION
00:06:27NIGHT WATCH PARTY FROM SENATOR GRAHAM, UNLIKE THE PRIMARY WHERE
00:06:30SHE WAS AT A PODCAST STUDIO AND
00:06:33IT WAS HER FAMILY AND A BUNCH OF REPORTERS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
00:06:38WE DO SEE DOZENS OF SUPPORTERS HERE.
00:06:40WE HAVE SEEN CONGRESSMAN WILLIAM
00:06:44TIMMONS, LAWMAKERS ROBBIE ROBBINS AND JOE BUSTOS.
00:06:47WE HAVE SEEN CODY SIMPSON, THE
00:06:51REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER, AND WE ARE EXPECTING GOVERNOR MCMASTER.
00:06:56WE DID SEE A MEMBER OF HIS SECURITY TEAM EARLIER.
00:07:01WE ARE TOLD EVERYBODY IS UPSTAIRS GATHERING WHILE ELECTION RESULTS ARE COMING IN.
00:07:07SO FAR EVERYBODY IS IN A PRETTY GOOD MOOD.
00:07:10THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING REPORTERS
00:07:11ABOUT OUR THOUGHTS TONIGHT, BECAUSE EVERYONE BELIEVES THIS
00:07:15IS GOING TO BE SO CLOSE. WE DID ALSO SEE DAVID WILKINS,
00:07:19FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER.
00:07:21MUCH MORE OF THE VIBE OF AN
00:07:23ELECTION NIGHT WATCH PARTY, A
00:07:27LAW FIRM OFFICE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE.
00:07:30GAVIN: WE WILL BE BACK WITH YOU TO TALK TO SOME OF THOSE FOLKS
00:07:34YOU WERE LISTING.
00:07:35NOW SCOTT MORGAN AT CONGRESSMAN
00:07:39NORMAN'S WATCH PARTY. HOW IS IT GOING THERE?
00:07:41>> PRETTY GOOD.
00:07:44THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE, I
00:07:48GUESS 150, 200. RALPH NORMAN HASN'T SHOWN UP,
00:07:51BUT IT'S A PRETTY FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE.
00:07:54LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVING A GOOD TIME, SOME FOOD, DRINKS, CONVERSATIONS.
00:08:00I HAVE RUN INTO SOME GUYS FROM
00:08:02GREENVILLE WHO HAVE COME ALL
00:08:05THE WAY HERE TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR RALPH
00:08:09NORMAN, BECAUSE THEY SAY HE IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE
00:08:12THEY WANT TO BREAK THE GRAHAM
00:08:15DYNASTY, AS THEY SAY.
00:08:17RALPH NORMAN SHOULD BE HERE IN A LITTLE BED.
00:08:22THE RACE KEEP DOING THIS, GOING BACK AND FORTH.
00:08:25WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
00:08:28GAVIN: WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU GUYS.
00:08:31WE JUST HEARD GRAHAM DYNASTY.
00:08:36IT'S GOING TO BE MAY BE ONE OF THE STORY LINES, IF DARLINE IS
00:08:39ABLE TO GET THE NOMINATION AND
00:08:41THAT FULL-TERM IS THE POWER OF THE GRAHAM NAME.
00:08:46WHERE SCOTT IS IN THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, RALPH
00:08:50NORMAN'S DISTRICT AND THE UPSTATE WAS ALWAYS A WEAK SPOT FOR SENATOR GRAHAM.
00:08:55IF SHE CAN PULL THIS OUT, THAT'S
00:08:58A BIG DEAL FOR THE GRAHAM NAME AND IT MIGHT BE A DYNASTY. KRIK: AGREED.
00:09:03WE HAVE A TALE OF TWO DIFFERENT CAMPAIGNS RIGHT NOW.
00:09:07YOU HAVE GRAHAM RUNNING ON THAT
00:09:11NAME, ON THAT LEGACY, A DIRECT CONNECTION TO HER BROTHER.
00:09:17WITH NORMAN TRYING TO CLAIM THAT HE HAS THE CONSERVATIVE
00:09:20LEGISLATIVE RECORD, THE
00:09:26YET TRUMP ENDORSES GRAHAM, DOESN'T ENDORSE NORMAN.
00:09:31IT'S VERY MUCH, WILL THAT NAME
00:09:33AND WILL TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT BE ENOUGH TO PROPEL HER ACROSS THE FINISH LINE?
00:09:39OR WILL NORMAN BE ABLE TO PREVAIL IN THE END?
00:09:41GAVIN: THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE
00:09:45ARE WATCHING, THE POWER OF THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.
00:09:48TWO WEEKS AGO WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THE PRESIDENT WOULD COME TO TOWN
00:09:52BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SEE HIM COME TO TOWN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
00:09:54PAM ABBOTT IN THE JUNE 9 --
00:09:56PAMELA EVERETT IN THE JUNE 9
00:10:02GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY, WHEN HE GAVE A DUAL ENDORSEMENT.
00:10:05ALAN WILSON WENT ON TO WIN BY 18 POINTS. NOT WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE,
00:10:08DARLINE GRAHAM UP BY SEVEN POINTS.
00:10:1233% OF THE VOTE, POLLS ONLY CLOSED FOR AN HOUR.
00:10:17STRONG TURNOUT IN HORRY COUNTY FOR DARLINE GRAHAM, WHERE SHE
00:10:20CAME IN SECOND AUGUST 11.
00:10:23THAT'S CONGRESSMAN RUSSELL FRY'S TERRITORY, THE COAST AND THE PD, THE GRAND STRAND.
00:10:28THAT'S WHERE WE SAW TRUMP RALLY FOR HER LAST FRIDAY.
00:10:30KIRK: IT'S INTERESTING, A LOT OF
00:10:35THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE LOST IN SIMILAR
00:10:39CAMPAIGNS, SIMILAR RACES. I THINK TRUMP RECOGNIZES HE
00:10:43NEEDS THIS WIN.
00:10:47IN THE RALLY IN MYRTLE BEACH, HE
00:10:49TALKED ABOUT, PLEASE VOTE AS IF I AM ON THE BALLOT.
00:10:54IN MANY WAYS, HE IS.
00:10:55THE ENDORSEMENT FOR DARLINE
00:10:59GRAHAM CAME OUT INCREDIBLY EARLY IN THE CYCLE, AT LEAST EARLY FOR DONALD TRUMP.
00:11:04HE TENDS TO WAIT UNTIL THE END.
00:11:07IT GAVE HER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
00:11:08OF MOMENTUM STARTING OFF, BUT AFTER THE DEBATE, A LITTLE BIT
00:11:12OF STALLING HAPPENING.
00:11:17THEN COMBINED WITH OTHER ENDORSEMENTS LOSING THEIR
00:11:21ELECTIONS, I THINK TRUMP RECOGNIZED, I NEED TO GO TO
00:11:24SOUTH CAROLINA TO SALVAGE THIS. SO FAR IT LOOKS LIKE THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
00:11:31IT IS STILL TOO CLOSE, TOO EARLY
00:11:33TO CALL, BUT I THINK THAT HAS
00:11:37BEEN A NOTABLE BOOST FOR GRAHAM'S CAMPAIGN.
00:11:40GAVIN: ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK
00:11:45ABOUT HOW HE CULTIVATED THIS CANDIDACY FOR HER, SAID
00:11:48REPORTEDLY THAT HE WAS THE ONE THAT TOLD HER TO RUN FOR THE
00:11:52FULL-TERM, AND THEN DEPLOY THIS ENTIRE STRATEGY.
00:11:54WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE
00:11:56MOURNING PERIOD AND THE RUNNING AND DOING SOME WORK IN THE SENATE TOO.
00:12:02IT'S FASCINATING BECAUSE WE DID SEE HIM DO A RALLY, THINGS WE
00:12:05HAVEN'T SEEN HIM DO FOR OTHER FOLKS NECESSARILY, AND ALSO SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY.
00:12:08KIRK: $800,000 IN SUPPORT OF HER.
00:12:11GAVIN: FASCINATING TO SEE THAT.
00:12:15WE ARE GOING TO GET SOME NUMBERS IN QUAKE.
00:12:18IT IS STILL EARLY, BUT ALSO VERY
00:12:21TIGHT WITH SENATOR GRAHAM AT 54%
00:12:24AND RALPH NORMAN AT 46%.
00:12:27EIGHT POINT MARGIN RIGHT THERE.
00:12:30IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW
00:12:32THIS IS SHAPING UP WHEN WE TALK
00:12:35ABOUT THE MESSAGING GOING INTO THE MIDTERMS IN NOVEMBER.
00:12:41SOUTH CAROLINA, SOLID RED. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
00:12:45HIM HAVING THAT MESSAGE ON THE
00:12:47STAGE LAST WEEK IN LITTLE BEACH, SAYING VOTE LIKE I'M ON THE BALLOT.
00:12:52THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT MIGHT BE THE RALLYING CRY FROM THE
00:12:55REPUBLICAN PARTY INTO NOVEMBER, WHICH IS A MIDTERM, WHICH IS
00:12:59ALWAYS PRETTY BRUISING. KIRK: I THINK THAT WAS THE BOOST
00:13:02THAT SENATOR GRAHAM NEEDED IN THAT HER MESSAGE WAS KIND OF
00:13:06GETTING LOST AFTER THAT DEBATE.
00:13:08TRUMP SAYING, VOTE FOR HER AS THOUGH I WAS ON THE BALLOT I
00:13:11THINK REINFORCED HIS SUPPORT,
00:13:14HIS NOTION THAT HE IS GOING TO
00:13:18VOTE ALIKE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS WANT DESPITE THE
00:13:22FACT THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE A RECORD LIKE RALPH NORMAN.
00:13:27SHE IS ONE OF US. THAT WAS THE SIGNAL THAT TRUMP'S
00:13:31RALLY SENT, AND I VERY MUCH THINK THAT'S WHAT HER SUPPORTERS
00:13:34NEEDED TO HEAR TO KEEP THEM EXCITED.
00:13:38MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT'S WHY THE PRIMARY VOTERS STILL NEEDED TO
00:13:43HEAR BECAUSE THEY HADN'T QUITE GOTTEN THAT MESSAGE FROM HER CAMPAIGN DIRECTLY.
00:13:47GAVIN: TALKING ABOUT THE DEBATE
00:13:50MOMENT, AND WE WILL GO TO MAAYAN
00:13:55IN A MOMENT, BUT WHEN SHE SAID, I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT NATIONAL
00:14:00SECURITY, SHOWING SHE IS A TRUE OUTSIDER ADMITTING WHEN SHE
00:14:02DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW.
00:14:05THE PRESIDENT CALL THAT AN HONEST ANSWER AND THAT SHE WOULD
00:14:08DEFER TO PEOPLE THAT DO NO ANGST LIKE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO TAIWAN.
00:14:12SHE IS FOCUSING MORE ON DOMESTIC ISSUES VERSUS HER BROTHER
00:14:15LINDSAY, WHICH WAS MORE FOREIGN
00:14:17POLICY, HAWKISH.
00:14:19SOME VOTERS I TALKED TO IN HORRY COUNTY WERE NOT UPSET BY THAT.
00:14:23I THINK WE ARE SEEING THAT RIGHT NOW.
00:14:25KIRK: I THINK SUBSTANTIVELY FOR
00:14:28A LOT OF AVERAGE PEOPLE, ISSUES
00:14:30WITH FOREIGN AFFAIRS TAKING A
00:14:35BACKSEAT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING DOMESTICALLY. A LOT OF US PAY ATTENTION TO
00:14:38WORLD NEWS, BUT WE REALLY GET
00:14:41ENERGIZED AND MOTIVATED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HOME.
00:14:45WHAT HER ANSWER DID, I DON'T
00:14:47THINK IT UPSET ANYBODY IN A
00:14:50SUBSTANTIVE SENSE, BUT I THINK
00:14:53IT DEMONSTRATED HER INEXPERIENCE AND THAT'S WHAT GAVE PEOPLE PAUSE.
00:14:58AND THIS IS WHAT NORMAN'S CAMPAIGN SEIZED ON.
00:15:02DO YOU WANT TO ELECT SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO LEARN ON THE JOB?
00:15:08IT'S ALMOST AS IF THE SENATE WERE SORT OF AN INTERNSHIP.
00:15:12THAT WAS THE PAINTING HE WAS TRYING TO PORTRAY.
00:15:16I THINK TRUMP IN THAT RALLY
00:15:18HELPED REMIND PEOPLE, SHE WILL
00:15:22LEARN SOME OF THE FOREIGN POLICY
00:15:24STUFF, BUT SHE IS FOCUSED ON
00:15:27DOMESTIC ISSUES THAT MATTER TO ALL OF US.
00:15:30GAVIN: SPEAKING OF MONEY BEING
00:15:34SPENT, A NIKKI HALEY ALIGNED PAC
00:15:36SPENT ABOUT .5 MILLION DOLLARS
00:15:41RUNNING MESSAGES ON THAT AND CAPITALIZING ON THAT FOR NORMAN. WE ARE GOING TO JUMP TO MAAYAN
00:15:46SCHECHTER AT THE GRAHAM WATCH PARTY WITH THE AGRICULTURE
00:15:50COMMISSIONER REPUBLICAN NOMINEE CODY SIMPSON. WHAT'S HE GOT TO SAY?
00:15:54MAAYAN: WE ARE HERE WITH CODY
00:15:58SIMPSON, RUNNING FOR AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER. TELL US, WHAT ABOUT DARLINE
00:16:03GRAHAM MAKES HER THE CANDIDATE FOR YOU?
00:16:04>> I AM SO HAPPY TO BE ON OUR FARM.
00:16:10WE FEEL SENATOR GRAHAM IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON OUR FARM IN CLARENDON COUNTY.
00:16:17SHE UNDERSTANDS OUR WAY OF LIFE.
00:16:19HER BACKGROUND GROWING UP IN A LIQUOR STORE AND A BAR.
00:16:23I USED TO RUN A COUNTRY STORE WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD AND I PUMPED THE GAS.
00:16:27I FEEL THAT CONNECTION WITH HER BECAUSE SHE UNDERSTANDS OUR WAY
00:16:31OF LIFE, OUR TRIALS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
00:16:35SHE IS FROM THE BACKCOUNTRY AND SHE IS A FIGHTER.
00:16:38SHE UNDERSTANDS OUR WAY OF LIFE,
00:16:41AND WE NEED THAT PERSON TO REPRESENT US.
00:16:44AS THE WORLD MAY BE CHANGING, SOUTH CAROLINA, WE HAVE GOT A
00:16:48LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING IN. WE NEED TO SEND A STRONG
00:16:51REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US ON OUR FARMS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
00:16:55IT MAKES OUR COMMUNITIES STRONG
00:16:58AS OUR FARMS, SCHOOLS, AND RELIGIOUS CENTERS.
00:17:01THAT'S WHY I AM SO SUPPORTIVE OF SENATOR GRAHAM.
00:17:03MAAYAN: YOU MIGHT BE THE WHITE
00:17:07CANDIDATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHO RECEIVED THE FASTEST ENDORSEMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP.
00:17:12HOW CRITICAL WAS THAT ENDORSEMENT FOR HER IN THIS RACE? >> CRITICAL.
00:17:17HE WAS THE ONE WHO ASKED HER TO RUN. NOW WE ARE SAYING WIN.
00:17:22THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTANDS HE
00:17:24NEEDS A FIGHTER IN THE SENATE.
00:17:28HE HAS SEVERAL INITIATIVES WITH THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA, PASSING THE SAVE ACT.
00:17:32WHAT SHE HAS AGREED TO IS
00:17:35PASSING THE FARM BILL, BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
00:17:39SHE IS ALREADY TACKLING MAJOR ISSUES LIKE IMMIGRATION, AND
00:17:42OTHER AREAS, AFFORDABILITY TO GET PRICES DOWN.
00:17:48IN SOUTH CAROLINA WE ARE 55% HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
00:17:54SHE IS TALKING ABOUT THAT. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE
00:17:57IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE OUR FAMILIES ARE FACING THINGS AT THE KITCHEN TABLE.
00:18:02PRICES ARE GOING UP AND SHE IS WILLING TO HELP US GET MORE
00:18:05DIRECT TO CONSUMER, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR
00:18:09FAMILIES, TO BE ABLE TO DEPEND ON LOCAL FARMERS.
00:18:13SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT BECAUSE SHE GREW UP IN HER OWN COMMUNITY.
00:18:15MAAYAN: WE HAVE HEARD SO MUCH
00:18:18CRITICISM RELATED TO SENATOR
00:18:19GRAHAM'S CANDIDACY OVER HER LACK
00:18:23OF POLITICAL EXPERIENCE, AS A CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.
00:18:26DO YOU THINK THAT CRITICISM IS FAIR?
00:18:28>> I THINK SHE HAS DONE A
00:18:33REMARKABLE JOB IN HER PRIOR POSITIONS.
00:18:35THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED HER TO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
00:18:40SHE WAS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND. SHE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.
00:18:46I WORKED WITH HER IN GOVERNOR
00:18:47MASTER'S OFFICE SO I SAW HER EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND.
00:18:52SHE ADVOCATED FOR THE COMMISSION.
00:18:54SHE LITERALLY REBUILT THAT COMMISSION TO WHAT IT IS TODAY.
00:18:58SHE FOUGHT FOR FOLKS.
00:19:01THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD A FUTURE,
00:19:02BUT SHE SAW TO IT THEY GOT A JOB AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE TAKEN
00:19:06CARE OF. I SAW THAT COMPASSION AND WILL
00:19:10BECAUSE SHE IS A SOUTH CAROLINIAN.
00:19:14PRESIDENT TRUMP WASN'T A POLITICIAN BEFORE.
00:19:16HE HAD NEVER HELD ELECTED OFFICE, BUT LOOK AT ALL HE IS DOING FOR OUR COUNTRY.
00:19:21LOOK AT WHY SHE HAS ALREADY DONE IN 20 DAYS.
00:19:25PEOPLE DON'T PICK THIS UP, BUT I
00:19:31SAW THAT WILL BECAUSE SHE IS A SOUTH CAROLINIAN.
00:19:34SHE WAS ABLE TO STAY AND REMAIN
00:19:37ON APPROPRIATIONS, ABLE TO DELIVER FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
00:19:44I KNOW FIRE STATIONS, POLICE OFFICERS. THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THESE OLD
00:19:48RURAL COMMUNITY WASTEWATER PLANTS.
00:19:52SENATOR GRAHAM WAS ABLE TO DELIVER THAT FOR THESE
00:19:55COMMUNITIES, AND SHE HAS PLEDGED TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT IS THE
00:19:58HEARTBEAT OF AMERICA IN THESE
00:20:02RURAL COMMUNITIES. THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SHE STANDS UP FOR US AND THAT'S
00:20:06WHY SHE IS GOING TO WIN TONIGHT.
00:20:08MAAYAN: CODY SIMPSON, CANDIDATE
00:20:12FOR AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. BACK TO YOU, GAVIN.
00:20:17GAVIN: CODY SIMPSON DEFINITELY
00:20:20THE BIGGEST TYPE PERSON YOU CAN FIND IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOW.
00:20:25I SAW HIM IN MYRTLE BEACH AND HE GOT THE CROWD ON THEIR FEET.
00:20:28HE IS FACING OFF AGAINST DESHAWN
00:20:31BLANEY, A DEMOCRAT AS WELL AS
00:20:34CHRIS NELMS AND MICHAEL SOLAN'S.
00:20:38HIS RACE WAS SET BACK IN JUNE WITHOUT RUNOFF.
00:20:42WE ARE GOING TO GO TO SCOTT
00:20:44MORGAN, WHO IS IN ROCK HILL AT CONGRESSMAN NORMAN'S WATCH PARTY .
00:20:49I SEE YOU HAVE A SUPPORTER WITH YOU.
00:20:51SCOTT: YEAH, THIS IS RICK, WHO
00:20:57IS DOWN FROM GREENVILLE. THIS IS MY NEW FRIEND RICK.
00:21:03A NAVY VETERAN, CAME ALL THE WAY FROM GREENVILLE TO SUPPORT RALPH NORMAN.
00:21:07WHY DID YOU COME ALL THE WAY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT IN ROCK HILL?
00:21:10>> IT'S IMPORTANT THIS ELECTION
00:21:14THAT WE HAVE A SENATOR WHO IS A
00:21:15CONSTANT -- CONSTITUTIONAL
00:21:19CONSERVATIVE WHO BELIEVES IN THE CONSTITUTION. RALPH IS THAT GUY.
00:21:24RALPH WAS NOT MY GUY FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE I THOUGHT ALAN
00:21:27WILSON WAS EQUALLY QUALIFIED BUT A BETTER CANDIDATE.
00:21:30BUT THE WAY THINGS TURNED OUT WITH SENATOR GRAHAM PASSING
00:21:34AWAY, RALPH DECIDED TO RUN.
00:21:36I LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, HE'S THE GUY I'M GOING TO SUPPORT.
00:21:41RALPH HAS PROBABLY GOT TO BE THE MOST CONSERVATIVE SENATOR WHEN
00:21:44HE GETS ELECTED, SO THAT'S THE REASON I SUPPORTED HIM.
00:21:50I KNEW HIM IN THE LEGISLATURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND EVEN THOUGH
00:21:54I WAS IN GREENVILLE, I SUPPORTED HIM.
00:21:57WHEN HE RAN FOR CONGRESS, I WAS ACTIVE IN THE CONVENTION OF THE
00:21:59STATES PROJECT, WHICH WE PASSED
00:22:04IN 2022. RALPH HELPED US WITH THAT, SO
00:22:05THAT'S HOW I KNOW HE HAS GOT THE SAME CONCERNS THAT I DO ABOUT
00:22:09OUT-OF-CONTROL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
00:22:13WE NEED SOMEBODY LIKE HIM TO REIN IT BACK IN AND REPRESENT SOUTH CAROLINA.
00:22:16SCOTT: ONE OF THE BIG
00:22:20DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RALPH NORMAN AND LINDSEY GRAHAM WAS LINDSEY
00:22:22GRAHAM WAS KNOWN AS A STATESMAN, A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
00:22:26RALPH NORMAN NOT SO MUCH.
00:22:28DOES THAT CONCERN YOU OR ARE YOU MORE CONCERNED WITH SOUTH CAROLINA ISSUES?
00:22:32>> NO, I FEEL CONFIDENT RALPH CAN GROW INTO THAT ROLE.
00:22:37LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, YOU GOT TO LEARN THE ROPES.
00:22:39BUT HE IS FAR FROM A ROOKIE AND IS THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.
00:22:44PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ENDORSED HIS
00:22:46OPPONENT, AND THAT'S FINE, BUT I
00:22:49THINK HE GOT BAD ADVICE.
00:22:51I THINK THAT ARLENE, ASK --
00:22:56DARLINE, EXCUSE ME, RALPH IS FAR
00:22:59MORE QUALIFIED, AND HE CAN BE THE STATESMAN THAT LINDSAY WAS.
00:23:04I HAD ISSUES WITH LINDSAY. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RUN
00:23:08CANDIDATES AGAINST HIM FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS. HE LINED UP WITH JOHN KERRY BACK
00:23:11IN THE DAY ON CARBON TAX, AND HE
00:23:15VOTED FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES THAT ARE TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
00:23:23THE PRESIDENT DESERVES WHO HE IS GOD.
00:23:25THE ROLE OF A SENATOR ORIGINALLY
00:23:28PRIOR TO THE 17TH AMENDMENT WAS
00:23:31TO REPRESENT THE SOVEREIGN STATES AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
00:23:35AND NOW WE HAVE GOT 535 REPS.
00:23:39I FEEL RALPH CAN REPRESENT THE STATE BETTER. HE'S NOT GOING THERE TO BRING
00:23:43WELFARE TO SOUTH CAROLINA, HE IS GOING THERE TO REPRESENT THE
00:23:47STATE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
00:23:47SCOTT: DARLINE GRAHAM GOT THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT PRETTY EARLY,
00:23:53AND TRUMP HAS HAD A PRETTY GOOD TRACK RECORD ENDORSING CANDIDATES.
00:23:58REGARDLESS OF HOW IT COMES OUT TONIGHT, WHY WAS THAT NOT A FACTOR FOR YOU?
00:24:03WHY DID THAT NOT MATTER FOR YOU TO VOTE FOR RALPH NORMAN?
00:24:06>> I LOOKED AT THE QUALITY OF THE CANDIDATE.
00:24:10DESPITE THE FACT SHE IS A VERY
00:24:11NICE LADY, I JUST DIDN'T -- IT
00:24:16WASN'T A TURNING POINT FOR ME,
00:24:19BUT IT CONNECTED THE DOTS FOR ME, THE DEBATE.
00:24:24THE ANSWERS SHE GAVE IN THE DEBATE WERE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE
00:24:27IN MY REGARD, PRIMARILY ON NATIONAL SECURITY.
00:24:31THE REASON FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND I'M GOING BACK
00:24:35TO THE ORIGINAL THOUGHTS OF THE FRAMERS, TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS
00:24:39OF THE STATES.
00:24:42BY NOT UNDERSTANDING AT THAT POINT ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY,
00:24:46IT WAS A FATAL FLAW.
00:24:48I NEVER WOULD HAVE VOTED HER IN THE BEGINNING, BUT THAT DROVE
00:24:52HOME THAT POINT. SCOTT: I SEE.
00:24:56THIS IS MY FRIEND RICK MOZER
00:24:59DOWN FROM GREENVILLE. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
00:25:01GAVIN: GREAT FOR RICK TO DO
00:25:05THAT. LIVE TV IS NOTHING TO SHAKE A STICK AT, SO THAT WAS WONDERFUL.
00:25:09THE LATEST NUMBERS, AN HOUR AND
00:25:1320 MINUTES SINCE POLLS CLOSING,
00:25:16SENATOR GRAHAM IS STILL IN THE LEAD WITH 53% TO RALPH NORMAN AT 47%.
00:25:22THE AP IS SAYING ABOUT 50% OF THE VOTES HAVE BEEN COUNTED.
00:25:26WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE MORE
00:25:28IN KEY COUNTIES, LIKE HORI, GREENVILLE, SPARTANBURG.
00:25:33BUT A LOT OF THAT VOTE IS COMING IN.
00:25:36WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT IN THE UPSTATE AREA VERSUS THE
00:25:40MIDLANDS, THE COAST, AND THE LOW COUNTRY. WONDERFUL REGIONS OF OUR STATE.
00:25:4452% OF THE VOTE COUNTED, DARLINE
00:25:50ABOUT 6% LEAD. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? SHE MUST BE FEELING PRETTY
00:25:54CONFIDENT? TWO EARLY?
00:25:56KIRK: I THINK SHE IS FEELING
00:25:59MORE CONFIDENT THEN MAYBE SHE
00:26:02WAS BEFORE THE BOOTHS CLOSED.
00:26:06CERTAINLY IF NORMAN HAD JUMPED
00:26:08OUT TO AN EARLY LEAD, I'M NOT SURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN
00:26:12ENOUGH MOMENTUM FOR HER TO CATCH UP.
00:26:15THE FACT SHE JUMPED OUT TO AN
00:26:17EARLY LEAD IS STILL OVER 50%
00:26:22WITH ABOUT HALF THE POLLS
00:26:23CLOSED, OR THE VOTES COME IN, I
00:26:28THINK THAT BODES WELL FOR HER. I STILL DON'T THINK IT'S
00:26:32CONCLUSIVE ENOUGH FOR HER TO
00:26:33BREATHE EASY, ESPECIALLY, AS YOU
00:26:37SAID, WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM A LOT OF COUNTIES IN THE UPSTATE.
00:26:42THE UPSTATE IS TYPICALLY THE MORE CONSERVATIVE PART OF SOUTH
00:26:46CAROLINA, AND THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE MANY OF THOSE VOTES ARE GOING TO GO FOR NORMAN.
00:26:51IT'S A QUESTION OF HOW LONG CAN SHE HOLD ON.
00:26:55NORMAN I THINK IS HOPING TO RAPIDLY CLOSE THAT DISTANCE.
00:27:00GAVIN: AS WE WERE TALKING,
00:27:00THINGS DID JUST JUMP A LITTLE
00:27:04BIT, ESPECIALLY GREENVILLE. 47% OF THE VOTE IN GREENVILLE SO
00:27:09FAR AND THAT HAS SHRUNK THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM, WITH
00:27:13GRAMS TOTAL SHRINKING 251% AND NORMAN AT 49%.
00:27:19FROM 6% TO 2%. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE
00:27:23HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. WE DON'T EXPECT A RACE CALL ON
00:27:25THE AIR, SO WE PROBABLY WON'T
00:27:28HAVE ANY SPEECHES, UNLESS THEY
00:27:32KNOW SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW FROM THESE CANDIDATES. WE ARE WAITING FOR THE AP TO DECIDE THAT.
00:27:38AN HOUR AND A HALF SINCE THE POLLS HAVE CLOSED AND GRAHAM IS
00:27:42AT 51% TO NORMAN 49%.
00:27:46SO TIGHT, HAPPENING NOW AS VOTES ARE COMING IN FROM THE UPSTATE.
00:27:49WE ARE STILL WAITING ON PLACES TO FILL OUT, LIKE THE COAST AND MORE.
00:27:54IT'S GOING TO BE A NAILBITER TO THE END.
00:27:56KIRK: I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THIS IS NOT A FRACTION OF A
00:28:01PERCENT DIFFERENCE.
00:28:03WE WILL LIKELY HAVE A RECOUNT.
00:28:08THE TWO CANDIDATES ARE TAPPING INTO DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE
00:28:12REPUBLICAN PARTY, A PARTY THAT
00:28:15IS POTENTIALLY SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE.
00:28:19SOME ARE THINKING ABOUT WHAT A
00:28:22POST-DONALD TRUMP REPUBLICAN PARTY MIGHT LOOK LIKE, OTHERS
00:28:26ARE TRYING TO CHAMPION THE MAGA
00:28:31LABEL AND LEAN INTO THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
00:28:33I THINK THIS IS A TELLING POINT
00:28:37FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE IN STORE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
00:28:41GAVIN: GOING BACK TO THE RALLY IN MYRTLE BEACH WITH THE
00:28:46PRESIDENT, HE DID SAY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS 100% MAGA.
00:28:50RIGHT NOW IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THAT.
00:28:52WHEN WE SAY MAGA, WE ARE SAYING HIM ESSENTIALLY.
00:28:57WE ARE SEEING THERE DEVIATION. POLITICO HAD AN INTERESTING
00:29:01HEADLINE. SOUTH CAROLINA COULD GIVE TRUMP
00:29:05A REVITALIZING WIN OR HIS MOST EMBARRASSING LOSS.
00:29:08THAT GOES BACK TO THE TIME AND ENERGY HE SPENT IN THE RACE AND
00:29:12THE MONEY WE SAW HIM INVEST. IT IS GOING TO BE A BIG ONE FOR
00:29:15HIM IF HE DOESN'T PULL THIS OUT FOR GRAHAM.
00:29:18KIRK: IF YOU LOOK AT HIS
00:29:22ENDORSEMENT OF DARLINE GRAHAM, HE TOOK A VIRTUAL UNKNOWN
00:29:26INDIVIDUAL THAT JUST HAVE THE LAST NAME, THE FAMILY CONNECTION TO LINDSEY GRAHAM.
00:29:32HE PROPELLED HER ONTO THE NATIONAL STAGE.
00:29:36IF SHE WINS, IT WILL BE IN NO
00:29:38SMALL PART BECAUSE OF TRUMP, HIS
00:29:41ENDORSEMENT, THE MONEY HIS PAC HAS SPENT.
00:29:45IF SHE LOSES, THAT ALSO, AS
00:29:47POLITICO SAID, IS GOING TO BE AN
00:29:51EMBARRASSING DEFEAT FOR HIM. BECAUSE HE TOOK SOMEONE THAT NOBODY KNEW.
00:29:56HE COULD HAVE EASILY THROWN HIS
00:29:59ENDORSEMENT TO RUSSELL FRY OR
00:30:01RALPH NORMAN, WHO HAD VOTED
00:30:05CONSISTENTLY WITH HIM ON ALL ISSUES.
00:30:08NORMAN MAY BE BUCKED HIM
00:30:15OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT THAT WAS AT.
00:30:17HE COULD HAVE THROWN HIS ENDORSEMENT TO EITHER OF THEM
00:30:20AND I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SLAMDUNK.
00:30:24BUT THROWING HIS ENDORSEMENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL THAT NOBODY REALLY KNEW PRIOR TO HER BROTHER'S
00:30:29DEATH, THAT'S A TEST ON THE TRUMP NAME AND THE WEIGHT IT CARRIES.
00:30:32GAVIN: THE GRAHAM NAME TOO.
00:30:36WHAT YOU WERE MENTIONING WITH HIM AND CONGRESSMAN NORMAN
00:30:39HAVING SOME TIFFS OVER THE YEARS , WHEREAS YOU GET SOMEONE LIKE
00:30:43SENATOR GRAHAM, WHO LIKE HER BROTHER IS GOING TO SUPPORT
00:30:47TRUMP NO MATTER WHAT.
00:30:48THE LATE SENATOR BECAME HIS GOLF
00:30:52BUDDY, BASICALLY HIS FOREIGN POLICY ADVISOR. HE WAS ALWAYS ON THE SUNDAY
00:30:57SHOWS, COMMUNICATING IN WAYS MAYBE THE WHITE HOUSE WISH THE
00:31:01PRESIDENT WOULD COMMUNICATE, BECAUSE GRAHAM WAS A GREAT COMMUNICATOR.
00:31:06DOING THINGS TO FIGHT FOR TRUMP'S AGENDA. MAYBE HE IS PROJECTING THAT ONTO
00:31:11DARLINE BECAUSE HE KNOWS SHE WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS.
00:31:14THAT'S WHAT SHE SAYS ON THE DEBATE STAGE, I'M GOING TO FIGHT
00:31:17FOR WHAT HE WANTS TO GET DONE. VERSUS SOMEONE LIKE CONGRESSMAN
00:31:21NORMAN WHO IS IN THE HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS, THAT FAR RIGHT
00:31:26CAUCUS, WHICH HAS CAUSED SOME CONSTERNATION, INCLUDING DURING
00:31:29THE DEBATE AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL LAST YEAR IN COMMITTEE.
00:31:33KIRK: 2025, WHICH A LOT OF
00:31:38PEOPLE FORGOT ABOUT, THE SPEAKER'S ELECTION RACE WHEN MIKE JOHNSON WAS UP FOR ELECTION.
00:31:43YOU SAW CONGRESSMAN NORMAN BACKING JIM JORDAN.
00:31:46YOU HAD CONGRESSWOMAN NANCY MACE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR WITH HER CELL PHONE, WITH DONALD TRUMP ON THE
00:31:50PHONE SAYING, TALK TO HIM.
00:31:53THEY HUDDLED UP AND YOU SEE NORMAN FLIP THAT VOTE.
00:31:58THAT IS FRESH IN TRUMP WORLD. OF COURSE NORMAN WANTED TO USE
00:32:01SOME LEVERAGE, BUT YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND WHILE YOU ARE A
00:32:06CONGRESSMAN, YOU ARE TRYING TO GET WHAT YOU CAN.
00:32:09I DON'T THINK YOU LOSE LEVERAGE
00:32:11AGAINST THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE IS TRYING TO GET WHAT HE WANTS DONE AT THE TIME.
00:32:15GAVIN: YOU ALSO HAD RALPH NORMAN
00:32:19INDOORS NIKKI HALEY IN THE 2024
00:32:22PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES, AND I DON'T THINK TRUMP HAS FORGOTTEN.
00:32:26THOSE ARE THE TWO NOTABLE TIMES NORMAN HAS GONE AGAINST TRUMP.
00:32:31VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER TIME, EVEN
00:32:33WITH THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL,
00:32:36NORMAN WAS AN INITIAL HOLDOUT
00:32:38BUT GOT THINGS SHIFTED MORE TO WHERE HE WAS COMFORTABLE, THEN
00:32:42ULTIMATELY VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT.
00:32:46I THINK HE IS VERY SURPRISED THAT TRUMP DID NOT THROW THE
00:32:49ENDORSEMENT HIS WAY.
00:32:53AND CERTAINLY RUSSELL FRY AGAIN, SAME KIND OF THING.
00:32:59EVEN WITHOUT THE COUPLE OF INSTANCES OF REBUKING THE
00:33:01PRESIDENT, FRY DOESN'T GET THE ENDORSEMENT EITHER.
00:33:06YOU HAVE GRAHAM, HER LAST NAME, TRUMP, HIS NAME.
00:33:11IT'S VERY MUCH, IS THAT ENOUGH TO CATAPULT HER ACROSS THE
00:33:16FINISH LINE?
00:33:20OR IS IT A DEMONSTRATED, PROVEN
00:33:23LEGISLATIVE TRACK RECORD THAT SOMEONE CAN RUN ON.
00:33:31GAVIN: I WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT IDEA BEFORE WE GO TO MAAYAN.
00:33:34I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CONGRESSMAN
00:33:37FRY, WHO DID COME THIRD IN THE
00:33:41ORIGINAL PRIMARY AND HOW HIS SUPPORT HAS SHIFTED.
00:33:43HE ENDORSED GRAHAM LATER.
00:33:47SENATOR TIM SCOTT GOT OFF THE SIDELINES TOO AND ENDORSED. WE SAW THE GOVERNOR INDOORS ALSO.
00:33:53FOR FRY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, THIS OPPORTUNITY DOES NOT COME ALONG EVERY ELECTION CYCLE.
00:33:58A LOT OF PEOPLE DO CHALLENGE THESE INCUMBENTS.
00:34:01WE SAW SENATOR GRAHAM ALWAYS BEATING BACK THOSE FOLKS, NEVER
00:34:05GOT INTO A RUNOFF, UNLIKE HIS SISTER, WHICH IS DIFFERENT.
00:34:0810 PEOPLE, UNKNOWNS AND WELL-KNOWN'S.
00:34:11FOR CONGRESSMAN FRY, YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE ENDORSED HIM,
00:34:16TRYING TO SEE THAT NEW GENERATION, BUT YOU SAW THESE TWO TAKE THE CAKE.
00:34:21THIS WOULD BE A DIFFERENT RACE IF IT WAS SENATOR GRAHAM VERSUS CONGRESSMAN FRY.
00:34:24KIRK: OR A DIFFERENT RACE IF WE
00:34:26HAD TWO MONTHS TO PLAY OUT AS
00:34:30OPPOSED TO TWO WEEKS.
00:34:33TYPICALLY WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE DIE IN OFFICE IN A SPECIAL
00:34:38ELECTION, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE MONTHS TO LEAD UP TO THOSE
00:34:41BOATS, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT. GAVIN: WE ARE GOING TO GO TO
00:34:44MAAYAN SCHECHTER AT DARLINE
00:34:48GRAHAM'S WATCH PARTY, WHERE I BELIEVE SHE HAS GREENVILLE SENATOR JASON ELLIOTT.
00:34:51MAAYAN: SENATOR ELLIOTT, USURPED
00:34:55A LITTLE WITH CONGRESSMAN RALPH
00:34:57-- YOU SERVED A LITTLE WITH
00:35:01CONGRESSMAN NORMAN IN THE STATEHOUSE, BUT WHY GO WITH SENATOR GRAHAM OVER CONGRESSMAN
00:35:05NORMAN? >> CONGRESSMAN NORMAN IS A GREAT
00:35:10GUY, SERVED IN THE SOUTH
00:35:10CAROLINA HOUSE AND NOW IN
00:35:15CONGRESS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WE HAVE A
00:35:18TRADITION WITH SENATOR GRAHAM,
00:35:21SENATOR FETTERMAN OF OUR U.S. --
00:35:23SENATOR THURMAN OF OUR U.S.
00:35:27SENATORS WORKING HARD FOR SOUTH CAROLINA. WE ARE GROWING BUT STILL
00:35:31RELATIVELY SMALL AND POOR COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE
00:35:35COUNTRY. WE NEED SOMEONE IN WASHINGTON FIGHTING FOR US EVERY DAY.
00:35:39WE HAVE GOT TO BRING FISCAL
00:35:42RESTRAINTS, BUT IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE GETTING FEDERAL RESOURCES,
00:35:46WE CAN'T HAVE SOMEONE IN WASHINGTON WITH HANDS TIED
00:35:50BEHIND THEIR BACK, NOT WORKING FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.
00:35:54I'M CONFIDENT THAT SENATOR DARLINE GRAHAM WILL PICK UP THE BATON FROM LINDSEY GRAHAM AND
00:35:58PRODUCE FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.
00:36:00HEALTH CARE FOR COLLEGES AND
00:36:05UNIVERSITIES, EVERY FACET IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
00:36:08WHETHER IT'S PHILANTHROPIC, EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND
00:36:11INDUSTRY, WE NEED A SENATOR WHO FIGHTS FOR US EVERY DAY, AND I'M
00:36:15CONFIDENT THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO GET WITH SENATOR DARLINE GRAHAM.
00:36:18MAAYAN: YOU TALKED ABOUT THE WAY
00:36:21SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM NOT ONLY WAS A CONDUIT BETWEEN THE
00:36:24LEGISLATURE AND THE WHITE HOUSE, BROUGHT MILLIONS IN FEDERAL
00:36:28DOLLARS TO SOUTH CAROLINA.
00:36:30JUST HOW CRITICAL FOR YOU IS
00:36:34HAVING SOMEONE WHO CAN STILL DO THAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE?
00:36:37AND YOU BELIEVE SENATOR GRAHAM IS THE PERSON TO DO THAT.
00:36:39>> WHEN ANYBODY IN SOUTH
00:36:44CAROLINA, THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE
00:36:47SENATE, WHEN THEY CALLED THE
00:36:48SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, HE WORKED FOR SOUTH CAROLINA AND HE PRODUCED.
00:36:54IT WAS NOT LIKE, THAT'S NOT MY JOB. IT WAS HIS JOB AND HE KNEW IT
00:36:58WAS HIS JOB EVERY DAY TO PUT OUR
00:37:00INTERESTS FIRST AND TO BE OUR
00:37:06FACE IN WASHINGTON.
00:37:07THAT'S WHAT WE NEED AND THAT'S
00:37:10WHAT WE WOULD SACRIFICE IF WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE THERE DOING THAT.
00:37:13MAAYAN: YOU TALKED TO VOTERS.
00:37:16THERE IS BEEN A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION ABOUT HER DEBATE
00:37:20PERFORMANCE, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE QUESTION ABOUT TAIWAN.
00:37:24ARE VOTERS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT RESPONSE?
00:37:26IS THAT SOMETHING YOU HAVE HEARD WAS WEIGHING ON THEIR MIND WHEN THEY VOTED?
00:37:29>> YEAH, EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION.
00:37:34SOME FOLKS THOUGHT, THAT GAVE ME PAUSE.
00:37:37I HAD SOMEBODY TELL ME, I DON'T CARE IF SHE KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE
00:37:41BETWEEN TAIWAN AND TIMMONS BELL, I KNOW SHE CAN LEARN.
00:37:45SHE HAS BEEN ON THIS JOB 20 DAYS
00:37:47AND SHE HAS HELPED DO GREAT THINGS FOR THIS COUNTRY.
00:37:50SHE HAS HELPED THE ADMINISTRATION AND SOUTH
00:37:54CAROLINA, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
00:37:57THIS IS A UNIQUE PROCESS, OBVIOUSLY NOT THE WAY WE NORMALLY ELECT SENATORS.
00:38:02SO IT IS A UNIQUE PROCESS.
00:38:06I THINK IN THE LIMITED TIME SHE
00:38:07HAS BEEN THERE, SHE HAS SHOWN
00:38:11SHE IS SOMEONE WHO WILL WORK HARD AND SOMEONE WHO WILL LEARN.
00:38:15I'M CONFIDENT IF SHE IS
00:38:17NOMINATED TONIGHT AND GOING ON,
00:38:22AND I'M CONFIDENT THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE WILL WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
00:38:28IF IT'S DARLINE GRAHAM, SOUTH CAROLINA IS GOING TO BE IN GOOD HANDS.
00:38:30MAAYAN: STATE SENATOR JASON ELLIOTT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
00:38:34JOINING US. GAVIN: ONE OF THOSE GRAHAM
00:38:37SUPPORTERS IN A STRONG
00:38:41NORMAN AREA.
00:38:41NEW NUMBERS WITH SENATOR GRAHAM
00:38:46STILL EDGING A LEAD OVER CONGRESSMAN RALPH NORMAN, WITH
00:38:49GRAHAM 52% AND NORMAN 48%.
00:38:52THAT'S FROM THE AP.
00:38:54ABOUT 67% OF THE VOTE IS IN WITH GRAHAM WITH A 4% LEAD.
00:39:01STILL VERY EARLY, POLLS CLOSED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF.
00:39:04WE SAW A LOT OF TURNOUT.
00:39:07I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT MAAYAN WAS TALKING TO SENATOR ELLIOTT
00:39:10ABOUT, BRINGING THE MONEY BACK,
00:39:13THE BACON, THE PORK, FEDERAL MONEY BACK TO THE STATE.
00:39:18LINDSEY GRAHAM WOULD JOKE ABOUT
00:39:19THAT AND HOW UNPOPULAR THAT WAS, BASICALLY HIM AND CONGRESSMAN CLYBURN DOING THAT.
00:39:26WE HAVE MULTIPLE MAJOR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS HERE, ONE OF WHICH
00:39:29WAS JUST RENAMED IN HIS HONOR, JOINT BASE CHARLESTON.
00:39:33WE SAW DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
00:39:39SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH, TREASURY SECRETARY SCOTT BESSENT, AND THE GOVERNOR.
00:39:42THAT HAPPENED IN LIGHTNING SPEED WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW THINGS
00:39:46HAPPEN IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, RENAMING TO JOINT BASE LINDSEY GRAHAM.
00:39:52THE U.S. AIR FORCE IS THE BACKBONE OF THE MILITARY, BEING ABLE TO TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT,
00:39:56TROOPS AROUND THE WORLD.
00:39:57THEY WANTED TO HONOR HIM WITH
00:40:04THAT BECAUSE HE DID SUPPORT THE
00:40:06MILITARY, BOTH WITH MONEY COMING TO THESE INSTALLATIONS IN THE
00:40:09STATE AND 30 YEARS IN THE AIR FORCE.
00:40:12THAT'S A MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NORMAN AND GRAHAM AND SOMETHING
00:40:15I HEARD HER TALK ABOUT ON THE
00:40:16CAMPAIGN TRAIL MONDAY IN AIKEN, HOME TO THE SAVANNAH RIVER NATIONAL LABORATORY.
00:40:21KIRK: IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER ONE OF LINDSEY GRAHAM'S
00:40:25STRENGTHS AND ONE OF THE REASONS
00:40:27HE CONTINUED TO GET ELECTED, EVEN WHEN HE HAD PRIMARY
00:40:32CHALLENGERS, WAS THE CONSTITUENT SERVICE THAT HE PROVIDED.
00:40:36THAT WAS SOMETHING HE AND HIS OFFICE PUT A REALLY STRONG EMPHASIS ON.
00:40:41HE LEARNED THAT FROM STROM
00:40:45THURMOND, FRITZ HOLLINGS BEFORE
00:40:48HIM THAT WERE BRILLIANT AT DOING THINGS FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
00:40:52LINDSAY NEVER LOST THAT FOCUS. AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE
00:40:57GLAMOROUS STUFF THAT WE SEE. IT'S NOT OUT IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
00:41:01MOST OF THIS IS IN THE SHADOWS, BEHIND THE SCENES.
00:41:06YOU DON'T NECESSARILY GET TO TAKE CREDIT, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
00:41:12WHEN TIM SCOTT ENTERED THE SENATE, I THINK LINDSAY HELPED
00:41:15POSITION SENATOR SCOTT TO DO SOME OF THAT.
00:41:19IT'S GOING TO BE TIM SCOTT'S RESPONSIBILITY NOW TO STEP UP A
00:41:21BIT MORE, SINCE HE IS NOW THE
00:41:24SENIOR SENATOR, NO MATTER WHO WINS TONIGHT.
00:41:28BUT THAT WAS AN ASPECT OF LINDSEY GRAHAM THAT DOESN'T
00:41:32OFTEN GET TALKED ABOUT. WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN HE WAS
00:41:36DOING THE TALK SHOWS OR ON HIS TRIPS OVERSEAS.
00:41:40WHEN HE WAS CHAMPIONING CERTAIN
00:41:42BILLS AND LEGISLATION, MAY BE
00:41:46WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER ON SOME THINGS. BUT WE FORGET THE CONSTITUENT
00:41:51SIDE, AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE VOTERS.
00:41:54I THINK YOU HEARD JUST NOW THESE
00:41:57STATE SENATOR TALKING ABOUT JUST HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS.
00:42:03HE THINKS DARLINE GRAHAM IS
00:42:04GOING TO PROVIDE THAT, OBVIOUSLY
00:42:10SUPPORTERS FOR RALPH NORMAN THINK HE'S GOING TO BE BEST POSITIONED.
00:42:13THAT IS A QUESTION THAT RESONATES WITH EVERYDAY INDIVIDUALS.
00:42:16GAVIN: I THINK THAT MESSAGING,
00:42:20WHILE YOU ARE TOTALLY RIGHT ABOUT THAT, GETS LOST WHEN SHE MENTIONS THE STAFF.
00:42:26PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS UNLESS YOU HAVE
00:42:27REALLY INTERACTED, BUT ONE OF
00:42:30SENATOR GRAHAM STAFFERS WERE TELLING ME, WHEN LINDSAY GOT IN
00:42:33OFFICE IN 2002, HE WAS TOLD, YOU
00:42:37HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL.
00:42:41LIKE YOU ARE SAYING WITH STROM THURMOND AND CONSTITUENT SERVICES, YOU HAD THURMAN FOR 47
00:42:45YEARS, HOLLINGS 38 YEARS.
00:42:48YOU HAVE GRAHAM COMING 2002. HOLLINGS GETS OUT OF THERE A
00:42:52COUPLE YEARS LATER. HOLLINGS WAS THE JUNIOR SENATOR
00:42:56FOR 38 YEARS.
00:42:58SO HERE COMES GRAHAM, AND NOW HE IS THE SENIOR SENATOR AFTER
00:43:02HOLLINGS GOT OUT. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
00:43:06HELPED HIM, LIKE YOU SAID, GET REELECTED AND PROVE THAT.
00:43:11ON TOP OF THAT, THAT TRUE CAMPAIGN MACHINE THAT WE HAVE SEEN DEPLOYED SINCE HE GOT IN
00:43:14THE SENATE, THAT HAS BEEN
00:43:18DEPLOYED IN A WAY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN SOME TIME.
00:43:22BECAUSE YOU HAD AN UNKNOWN, A SISTER WHO IS AN OUTSIDER.
00:43:27FOLKS WANT OUTSIDERS, BUT THIS IS WHAT AN OUTSIDER LOOKS LIKE.
00:43:31SHE GETS ACCUSED OF NOT TALKING TO THE MEDIA ENOUGH, WHICH IS TRUE.
00:43:34SHE DIDN'T GET AROUND TO THAT UNTIL LATER IN THE CYCLE.
00:43:38AND THEN YOU HAVE THESE GAFFES. IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN
00:43:42PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN OFFICE A LONG TIME
00:43:45OR THEY WANT AN OUTSIDER, AND WHICH IS WORSE, WHICH IS BETTER.
00:43:48KIRK: WHAT PEOPLE TEND TO FORGET
00:43:52IS YOU CAN'T GET THINGS DONE UNTIL YOU KNOW THE INSTITUTION INSIDE AND OUT.
00:43:57A GREAT EXAMPLE OUTSIDE OF SOUTH CAROLINA MIGHT BE A ROBERT BYRD
00:44:02FROM WEST VIRGINIA, LONG TIME SERVING SENATOR, THAT NEW THE
00:44:07SENATE, THE RULES, THE INSTITUTIONAL NORMS, AND HE WAS A POWERHOUSE.
00:44:13LINDSEY GRAHAM LEARNED THAT OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
00:44:16HE RECOGNIZED THAT IMPORTANCE
00:44:19AND THAT ALLOWED HIM TO HAVE TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE IN THE
00:44:23SENATE OVER HIS DECADES LONG SERVICE.
00:44:26THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OFTEN GETS GLOSSED OVER.
00:44:28WE TEND TO SAY WE WANT AN
00:44:33OUTSIDER BECAUSE WE ARE SICK OF WASHINGTON, D.C. AND ALL THOSE POLITICS.
00:44:38BUT THE OUTSIDER DOESN'T HAVE THE CONNECTIONS, DOESN'T HAVE
00:44:41THE INFLUENCE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT LINDSEY GRAHAM
00:44:45BROUGHT TO THIS STATE.
00:44:46THE CHAIR SHIPS THAT HE HAD ON
00:44:51JUDICIARY, FINANCE, BUDGET, THOSE THINGS WERE HUGE.
00:44:57YES, DARLINE GRAHAM IS STILL ON THOSE COMMITTEES, BUT WE LOST
00:45:00THAT CHAIRSHIP, THAT INFLUENCE.
00:45:04WHETHER IT'S GRAHAM, NORMAN,
00:45:07ANYBODY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO BUILD THAT UP.
00:45:11NOW IT'S GOING TO FALL ON TIM
00:45:13SCOTT TO PUT HIMSELF OUT THERE MORE THAN HE HAS HAD TO IN THE
00:45:17PAST, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING SHIFT FOR THE ENTIRE
00:45:21STATE. GAVIN: WE DID SEE HIM ON MEET
00:45:25THE PRESS THIS PAST WEEKEND, TALKING ABOUT HE WAS AT TRUMP'S
00:45:28RALLY IN SUPPORT OF GRAHAM.
00:45:31HE DID EULOGIZE HER BROTHER TWICE, AT THE PRAYER BREAKFAST AND THE SERVICE IN COLUMBIA.
00:45:38IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THE EVOLUTION WE ARE TALKING ABOUT,
00:45:41BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO TO THAT OFFICE AND VICE VERSA.
00:45:45GRAHAM'S OFFICE KNOWS HOW TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.
00:45:48PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT HIS OFFICE AS WELL TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.
00:45:52HE IS OVER AT THE BANKING
00:45:53COMMITTEE, THE NRS SEE, WHICH IS
00:45:56A BIG DEAL THIS MIDTERM SEASON WHEN DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING TO
00:46:00FLIP AT LEAST FOUR SEATS TO GET THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.
00:46:04A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ALSO THE TRUMP INFLUENCE IN
00:46:08THOSE RACES, ESPECIALLY PLACES LIKE TEXAS WITH KEN PAXTON.
00:46:11KIRK: YOU HAD MENTIONED GRAHAM'S OFFICE.
00:46:17WITH EITHER DARLINE GRAHAM OR RALPH NORMAN COMING IN, MANY OF
00:46:21THOSE STAFF MEMBERS MAY DECIDE TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT SOMEPLACE ELSE.
00:46:27WE TYPICALLY SEE THAT KIND OF TURNOVER WITH A NEW SENATOR.
00:46:31EVEN WITH EXISTING SENATORS, TURNOVER OF STAFF IS RELATIVELY
00:46:35REGULAR. LINDSEY GRAHAM WAS ABLE TO KEEP
00:46:38HIS STAFF FOR A LONG TIME, WHICH
00:46:41I THINK BODES WELL OR SPEAKS TO
00:46:45HIS LEGACY, HOW HE CONDUCTED HIMSELF.
00:46:48SO NOT ONLY IS THE STATE LOSING THE INFLUENCE OF LINDSEY GRAHAM,
00:46:53BUT WE ARE LOSING POTENTIALLY
00:46:56THE EXPERTISE OF THOSE STAFFERS ONCE NOVEMBER COMES AND GOES.
00:47:01AND IT WILL BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHO COMES TO REPLACE THEM.
00:47:03GAVIN: WE ARE GOING TO GET A
00:47:08FULL-PAGE AD OF GRAPHICS FOR OUR VIEWERS.
00:47:09THIS IS NEW NUMBERS, SOME
00:47:14MOVEMENT, WITH SENATOR GRAHAM AT
00:47:1853% AND CONGRESSMAN RALPH NORMAN AT 47%, A SIX POINT MARGIN.
00:47:23THAT HAS INCREASED SINCE IT GOT A LITTLE TIGHTER. ABOUT 75% OF THE VOTES HAVE BEEN
00:47:27COUNTED. WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF SUPPORT,
00:47:31AS WE EXPECTED, WITH NORMAN IN
00:47:33THE UPSTATE, THE GREENVILLE AREA , SPARTANBURG AREA, HIS HOME
00:47:37COUNTY OF YORK, THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HE HAS
00:47:41REPRESENTED SINCE 2017. MORE INTO THE MIDLANDS,
00:47:44INCLUDING LEXINGTON COUNTY, WE ARE SEEING SUPPORT FOR GRAHAM.
00:47:48SHE IS UP 59% AND OUR MEN AND
00:47:5240% IN LEXINGTON COUNTY, WITH 75% OF THE VOTES COUNTED.
00:47:57RICHLAND COUNTY, A MORE DEMOCRATIC COUNTY WHEN IT COMES
00:48:00TO OVERALL ELECTIONS, BUT WE ARE
00:48:03JUST LOOKING AT REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS CAN'T VOTE.
00:48:08UNLESS THEY JUMP OVER AND DON'T TELL ANYONE.
00:48:11THEY ARE TRYING TO CLOSE THOSE PRIMARIES. WHO KNOWS IF WE CAN DECIPHER THAT LATER.
00:48:17LEXINGTON COUNTY WITH 75% OF THE VOTE, SHE IS AT 60%.
00:48:21THIS WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE SWING COUNTIES.
00:48:25EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE COAST VERSUS THE UPSTATE, AND THEN THE MIDLANDS.
00:48:28KIRK: WHAT'S FASCINATING ABOUT
00:48:31LEXINGTON COUNTY IS YOU HAD
00:48:34THEIR COUNTY GOP ENDORSED RALPH
00:48:37NORMAN, DESPITE THE FACT THAT DARLINE GRAHAM'S HOME COUNTY.
00:48:41I THINK THERE WAS A POTENTIAL EXPECTATION, CERTAINLY A
00:48:45QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY COUNTY
00:48:49GOP'S ENDORSEMENT OF NORMAN WOULD BE ENOUGH TO SWING THINGS HIS WAY.
00:48:53THE FACT THAT SHE IS STILL
00:48:55HOLDING AT 60% I THINK MAKES HER
00:48:59FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE ABOUT HER
00:49:01CHANCES, KNOWING THAT SHE IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO DO WELL IN
00:49:04THE UPSTATE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SEEING CURRENTLY.
00:49:11LEXINGTON, RICHLAND COUNTY, DOWN
00:49:11TOWARDS CHARLESTON, HORRY COUNTY
00:49:15, THOSE ARE PLACES SHE NEEDS TO HOLD ONTO.
00:49:23GAVIN: WE HAVE STILL NOT HEARD FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, BUT WE ARE SEEING REPORTING THAT SENATOR GRAHAM IS THE WINNER.
00:49:26WE ARE NOT DOING THAT, THAT'S SOME OTHER OUTLETS.
00:49:29WE MAY BE HEARING FROM HER SOON.
00:49:31THIS IS KIND OF NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE CLOSER.
00:49:37THE DECISION DESK IS PROJECTING DARLINE GRAHAM WINNING SOUTH CAROLINA.
00:49:42JUST MOMENTS AGO ON TWITTER. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE AP.
00:49:47STILL ABOUT 75% REPORTING THAT WE ARE SEEING.
00:49:52IF THAT DOES HOLD, IF WE DO SEE THE AP CALL THIS, I'M SEEING
00:49:55ABOUT A SIX POINT MARGIN.
00:49:59THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY BIG MOMENT FOR HER.
00:50:01KIRK: I THINK THAT IS HUGE.
00:50:05I FIGURED THIS WAS GOING TO COME DOWN TO A FRACTION OF A PERCENT.
00:50:07GAVIN: I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE UP TILL MIDNIGHT.
00:50:10KIRK: POSSIBLY EVEN WAITING FOR
00:50:14A RECOUNT TOMORROW OR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THE FACT SHE STILL HAS A 6%
00:50:18MARGIN AND THAT SOME OUTLETS ARE CALLING IT FOR HER IS HUGE.
00:50:23IT ALSO BODES WELL FOR DONALD TRUMP.
00:50:26WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL STRENGTH OF HIS ENDORSEMENT, WHETHER HIS BRAND
00:50:30STILL MATTERS. I THINK, IF THIS HOLDS AND SHE
00:50:34IS THE WINNER, THAT IS
00:50:37ABSOLUTELY A FEATHER IN HIS CAP
00:50:40AND I THINK ALSO SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF HIM COMING TO
00:50:43MYRTLE BEACH ON FRIDAY TO CAMPAIGN FOR HER.
00:50:47THIS WOULD BE A MONUMENTAL ELECTION.
00:50:48GAVIN: REALLY SOMETHING TO SEE.
00:50:52WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
00:50:56SOME OUTLETS REPORTING THAT SENATOR GRAHAM IS GOING TO GET THE NOMINATION.
00:50:59WE WILL JUMP TO MAAYAN SCHECHTER AT THE WATCH PARTY.
00:51:03I'M SURE THE VIBES -- WE WILL
00:51:06GET THERE EVENTUALLY, BUT JUST THROWING THAT OUT FOR MAAYAN,
00:51:10THAT WE SHOULD SEE WHAT DIVIDE IS LIKE AT THE WATCH PARTY.
00:51:13MAYBE EVEN STAY ON THE AIR PAST 9:00 IN CASE WE EXPECT TO HEAR
00:51:17FROM SENATOR GRAHAM, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A MONUMENTAL MOMENT.
00:51:22AP HAS ABOUT 76% OF THE VOTES COUNTED.
00:51:25THEY HAVE NOT CALLED THE RACE YET.
00:51:28WE ARE SEEING THE MAJOR TURNOUT
00:51:30SHE NEEDED IN HORRY COUNTY, THE MIDLANDS, LEXINGTON COUNTY.
00:51:34NORMAN GETTING STRONG SUPPORT IN THE UPSTATE, BUT WHEN THE REST
00:51:38OF THE STATE IS GOING GRAHAM, THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH THE UPSTATE CAN DO.
00:51:41KIRK: THE FACT SHE JUMPED OUT TO
00:51:44AN EARLY LEAD WAS A REALLY GOOD
00:51:47SIGNAL BECAUSE SHE WASN'T HAVING TO PLAY CATCH-UP.
00:51:50SHE HAD THAT LEAD AND IT WAS JUST A QUESTION, COULD SHE HANG ONTO IT?
00:51:56THAT IS SOME MOMENTUM THAT
00:51:59ABSOLUTELY MAKES HER SUPPORTERS
00:52:01FEEL GOOD, KEEPS THEM EXCITED AND ENERGIZED.
00:52:07GAVIN: MAAYAN, I WANT TO SEE
00:52:11WHAT DIVIDE IS LIKE AT DARLINE GRAHAM'S WATCH PARTY.
00:52:14MAAYAN: CERTAINLY THE EXCITEMENT
00:52:17HAS AMPED UP. WE THOUGHT SENATOR DARLINE
00:52:21GRAHAM WAS WALKING IN, BUT IT
00:52:24WAS JUST OUT BIRDS OF APPLAUSE,
00:52:27CHANCE OF DARLINE GRAHAM.
00:52:32SO CLEARLY THEY'RE FEELING IS THE GRAHAM CAMPAIGN HAS WON THIS ONE.
00:52:40WE ARE SEEING STAFF AND SUPPORTERS CONGREGATE THE STAGE BEHIND ME.
00:52:43IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MAY BE GETTING
00:52:45READY FOR THE SENATOR TO COME OUT, BUT WE WILL SEE.
00:52:48WE KNOW IT TOOK A WHILE BACK
00:52:51DURING THE PRIMARY.
00:52:54AND MUCH MORE UPBEAT ROOM THAN
00:52:5720 MINUTES AGO.
00:53:01FOLKS REALLY FEEL LIKE SHE HAS CROSSED THE FINISH LINE.
00:53:03GAVIN: WE WILL GO BACK TO YOU
00:53:07WHEN WE KNOW FOR SURE OR IF SHE WALKS OUT.
00:53:10WE ARE WAITING FOR THE AP, BUT
00:53:12THEY HAVE THEIR STAFF AROUND THE
00:53:14STATE TO GET THOSE RESULTS AS THEY HAPPEN.
00:53:19KIRK, WHEN WE LOOK AHEAD TOWARD THE GENERAL ELECTION WITH ANNIE
00:53:23ANDREWS, THE PEDIATRICIAN WHO IS
00:53:27THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE. THERE IS ALSO A LIBERTARIAN
00:53:30CONSTITUTION PARTY CANDIDATE, BUT DR. ANDREWS IS THE BIG
00:53:34TARGET BETWEEN THE BOTH OF THEM.
00:53:36I'M WONDERING THE MESSAGING THAT
00:53:38STARTS AFTER THIS, THE MOMENTUM, AND MAYBE HOW DR. ANDREWS STARTS PIVOTING.
00:53:43I DID SEE HER OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE ISSUES CONFERENCE
00:53:47DEMOCRATS HELD IN FLORIDA.
00:53:50SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT ALSO, SHE
00:53:53WAS UP IN SPARTANBURG, REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD. YOU DON'T SEE DEMOCRATS GOING THERE.
00:53:58THAT'S PART OF THEIR STRATEGY, BECAUSE THERE ARE DEMOCRATS
00:54:02THERE, TRYING TO ENGAGE VOTERS IN THOSE AREAS.
00:54:03KIRK: I THINK DR. ANDREWS WAS
00:54:06HOPING TO SEE A MATCHUP WITH DARLINE GRAHAM.
00:54:10I THINK SOME OF THE EARLY
00:54:11POLLING VIEWED THAT ONE TO ONE A
00:54:14BIT MORE IN DR. ANDREWS' FAVOR.
00:54:19IT'S STILL VERY MUCH AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR HER.
00:54:22IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ANY DEMOCRAT TO WIN STATEWIDE OFFICE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
00:54:27WE HAVE ONLY SEEN IT A HANDFUL OF TIMES RECENTLY.
00:54:30I THINK GOING UP AGAINST RALPH NORMAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE
00:54:34OF A CHALLENGE, BECAUSE HE COULD LEAN ON HIS RECORD THAT DR.
00:54:39ANDREWS DOESN'T REALLY HAVE.
00:54:42NOW WITH DARLINE GRAHAM
00:54:46POTENTIALLY NEITHER ONE HAS AN EXTENSIVE LEGISLATIVE RECORD TO
00:54:48FALL BACK ON, SO IT REALLY BECOMES A BATTLE OF IDEAS.
00:54:55THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE REALLY SEEN A LOT IN CAMPAIGNS.
00:55:00TYPICALLY IT'S MUDSLINGING, PARTISAN POLITICS.
00:55:03BUT NOW IF WE HAVE TO CAMPAIGN ON ACTUAL IDEAS, ON SUBSTANTIVE
00:55:08ISSUES, THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY INTERESTING CHANGE.
00:55:13IT WILL BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW
00:55:15EACH INDIVIDUAL GETS THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS.
00:55:20SENATOR GRAHAM STILL HAS TO KIND
00:55:21OF INTRODUCE HERSELF, AND DR.
00:55:25ANDREWS IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INTRODUCE HERSELF.
00:55:28BUT I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO START PIVOTING MORE TO THOSE
00:55:31SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS.
00:55:32GAVIN: TALKING ABOUT INTRODUCING
00:55:36THEMSELVES, AND FOR GRAHAM IT'S MORE OF A CHALLENGE TOO.
00:55:39I'M ASSUMING WE ARE GOING TO START SEEING BEHIND THE SCENES
00:55:43WITH HER AND HER STAFF AS THEY GEAR UP FOR THE GENERAL
00:55:46ELECTION, TRYING TO GET HER READ UP SO THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE
00:55:50MOMENTS LIKE WE SAW ON THE DEBATE STAGE LAST TUESDAY WHEN
00:55:52IT COMES TO FOREIGN SECURITY AND
00:55:58ALLIES AND ADVERSARIES. I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ASPECT OF HOW WE SEE HER
00:56:02SHIFT OVER THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS.
00:56:05YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE INTENSITY OF CAMPAIGNING IN
00:56:08SOUTH CAROLINA, ALWAYS A BLOODSPORT.
00:56:11THE PAST TWO WEEKS, EVEN HIS
00:56:14ENTIRE CAMPAIGN, OBVIOUSLY DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES, HAS NOT BEEN AS DIVISIVE.
00:56:20OBVIOUSLY ON TWITTER THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD. I'M NOT ON TWITTER FOR THAT
00:56:24REASON BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT, BESIDES
00:56:27BREAKING NEWS MOMENTS LIKE THIS.
00:56:30WE HAVEN'T SEEN AS MUCH OF THAT. WE DID SEE THE ATTACK ADS FROM
00:56:34NORMAN AND PAC'S GOING AFTER HER
00:56:40FOR THE FLUB ON STAGE, BUT HE
00:56:41NEVER SEEMED TO DRILL DOWN AS
00:56:45HARD AS HE COULD HAVE WHEN IT CAME TO HER INEXPERIENCE OR
00:56:48PRESSING HER ON THE DEBATE STAGE. IT WAS MORE TALKING ABOUT
00:56:52HIMSELF, WHICH IS WHAT YOU WANT,
00:56:55NOT EXPLOITING THAT BIG WEAKNESS, IN SOME PEOPLE'S OPINIONS.
00:56:57KIRK: HE MADE IT A POINT TO SAY,
00:57:00I'M RUNNING AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS, NOT ANOTHER REPUBLICAN.
00:57:04MAYBE THAT WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
00:57:06IN HINDSIGHT, SINCE IT LOOKS
00:57:08LIKE HE IS NOT GOING TO WIN, THAT WAS LIKELY A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
00:57:13FOR THE ANDREWS-GRAHAM MATCHUP,
00:57:16ANDREWS WAS GOING TO RUN AGAINST LINDSEY GRAHAM ON DOMESTIC ISSUES.
00:57:20SHE WAS GOING TO LEAN INTO HER MEDICAL EXPERIENCE, HER CAREER
00:57:24AS A PEDIATRICIAN, AND DARLINE
00:57:27GRAHAM, BY ACKNOWLEDGING NATIONAL SECURITY IS NOT REALLY
00:57:30MY THING, SHE HAS POSITIONED
00:57:34HERSELF AS BEING INTERESTED IN THOSE DOMESTIC POLICY ISSUES.
00:57:38SO NOW I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE A CAMPAIGN BASED ON WHAT'S
00:57:41HAPPENING AT HOME, NOT A WHOLE LOT DEALING WITH FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
00:57:47IT'S GOING TO BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THOSE MESSAGES GET CRAFTED.
00:57:50GAVIN: I WANT TO GO BACK TO
00:57:54DOMESTIC ISSUES, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABILITY, DEMOCRAT VERSUS
00:57:58REPUBLICAN IN THE GENERAL. WE ARE GOING TO GO TO SCOTT
00:58:02MORGAN AT CONGRESSMAN RALPH NORMAN'S WATCH PARTY IN ROCK HILL. SCOTT: HEY, GAVIN.
00:58:08IT'S STILL PRETTY FESTIVE HERE, EVERYBODY STILL IN A FAIRLY GOOD
00:58:12MOOD, BUT THE REALITY SEEMS TO BE LANDING.
00:58:16IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE, TO MOST
00:58:18PEOPLE HERE, THAT CONGRESSMAN NORMAN IS GOING TO PULL THIS OUT.
00:58:23BUT THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT, THEY STAND BY THEIR CHOICES.
00:58:26I WAS TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE AND
00:58:27THEY SAID, WHATEVER RALPH DOES IN THE FUTURE, HE IS GOING TO BE
00:58:31SUCCESSFUL. SOMETHING HE SAID WHEN HE LOST
00:58:35HIS BID FOR GOVERNOR WAS HE WANTED TO FOUND A CONSERVATIVE
00:58:38THINK TANK IN ROCK HILL, AND
00:58:42EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE IN A POSITIVE MOOD ABOUT THAT.
00:58:44THE MOOD DOES SEEM A LITTLE LESS
00:58:48THAN IT WAS BEFORE, BUT STILL DOING PRETTY GOOD.
00:58:52THEY ARE STILL HERE FOR THEIR GUY, WHO HASN'T SHOWN UP YET.
00:58:56WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR RALPH NORMAN, AND WHEN WE DO, YOU WILL
00:59:00BE THE FIRST TO KNOW. GAVIN: THANK YOU, SCOTT.
00:59:04WE ARE LETTING OUR AUDIENCE KNOW WE ARE PLANNING TO GO INTO EXTRA INNINGS.
00:59:09WE WERE GOING TO GO OFF THE AIR AT 9:00, BUT WE ARE GOING TO
00:59:12STICK AROUND BECAUSE WE HAVE
00:59:14SEEN DECISION DESK HQ PROJECT DARLINE GRAHAM WINNING.
00:59:19WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS YET, BUT OUTLETS LIKE BLOOMBERG AND THE
00:59:23HILL HAVE TAKEN THAT AS THE NOMINATION.
00:59:26A LOT OF CELEBRATION GOING ON AT THE GRAHAM CAMPAIGN.
00:59:30I DON'T WANT TO SAY SADNESS,
00:59:33MAYBE JUST MELANCHOLY IS THE WORD IN ROCK HILL.
00:59:37WE WILL FIND OUT MORE AS WE WAIT
00:59:39FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TO BE THE DEFINITIVE SHOT CALLER,
00:59:43BECAUSE ONLY 81% OF THE VOTES ARE IN.
00:59:47A SIX POINT MARGIN HAS BEEN HOLDING PRETTY STRONG WITH
00:59:51SENATOR DARLINE GRAHAM AT 53% AND CONGRESSMAN RALPH NORMAN AT
00:59:55-- AT 47%, WITH ABOUT 86% OF
01:00:00THE VOTES COUNTED. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHERE THESE
01:00:04BALLOTS HAVE BEEN PLAYING OUT IN THE REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD OF
01:00:07HORRY COUNTY, THE HOME TURF OF
01:00:09CONGRESSMAN RUSSELL FRY, WHO WAS
01:00:12IN THIS RACE UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO
01:00:15WHEN HE CAME IN THIRD AND THREW HIS SUPPORT BEHIND DARLINE GRAHAM.
01:00:18THAT SUPPORT SEEMS TO BE HELPING AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.
01:00:24ALL THESE FACTORS COMING INTO PLAY IN WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS
01:00:26GOING TO BE A CLOSE RACE, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, SIX POINTS RIGHT
01:00:30NOW, 86% OF THE VOTES COUNTED.
01:00:32A DIFFERENT VIBE THAN A LOT OF
01:00:36PEOPLE WERE FEELING.
01:00:37TALKING TO STAFFERS, POLITICOS,
01:00:40POLLING, EVERYONE HAD THIS WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.
01:00:43IT'S EARLY, BUT IT SIX POINTS. MAYBE THEY LOWERED EXPECTATIONS
01:00:48AND THAT TRUMP RALLY HELPED BLOW IT OUT.
01:00:51KIRK: THAT COULD VERY WELL BE.
01:00:55I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME
01:00:56TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IF ANY DEFINITIVE FACTOR WENT INTO THIS.
01:01:02THE BOTTOM LINE IS, AT THIS POINT IN THE RACE TO BE UP BY
01:01:04SIX POINTS IS A COMFORTABLE LEAD.
01:01:08IF I WAS A SUPPORTER OF DARLINE GRAHAM, I WOULD BE ECSTATIC RIGHT NOW.
01:01:14FOR RALPH NORMAN, LIKE YOU SAID, A LITTLE BIT OF MELANCHOLY.
01:01:18THIS IS KIND OF THE SECOND TIME AROUND.
01:01:21THEY HAD THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE
01:01:26WE JUST HEARD THAT HE'S THINKING ABOUT MAYBE MOVING IN A
01:01:28DIFFERENT DIRECTION, STARTING AT
01:01:30THINK TANK, BUT I THINK FOR HIS
01:01:34SUPPORTERS, I THINK THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL.
01:01:37GAVIN: WE TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN
01:01:40WE LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GETTING THAT NOMINATION, WE LOOK
01:01:43AT THIS WHERE THE BOATS ARE GOING FOR SENATOR GRAHAM AND WE
01:01:46LOOK AT THE CAMPS OF ART LYNCH,
01:01:52CONGRESSMAN NORMAN'S OTHERWORLD,
01:01:56IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE WANT THAT MORE EXTREME, THAT FURTHER RIGHT
01:02:00CANDIDATE. THE TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT. WHAT IS IT SAY MAYBE ABOUT THE
01:02:03REPUBLICAN ELECTORATE HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA?
01:02:08DO THEY STILL WANT SOMEONE TO KIND OF WALK THAT LINE THAT WE SAW LINDSEY GRAHAM DO FOR SO
01:02:12LONG IN THE CONGRESS AND THE SENATE?
01:02:14KIRK: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
01:02:18RECOGNIZE IT WHEN IT COMES TO PRIMARY ELECTION, YOU HAVE SUCH
01:02:20A SMALL SEGMENT OF THE ELIGIBLE VOTING POPULATION SHOW UP, AND
01:02:23WE ARE TALKING MAYBE DOUBLE
01:02:27DIGITS, IN THE TEENS, IF MAYBE
01:02:29WE GET TO 20%, WE CONSIDER THAT
01:02:32TO BE A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT FOR
01:02:35A PRIMARY, AND IN SOUTH CAROLINA, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A
01:02:39REPUBLICAN DOMINATED STATE, THAT
01:02:42MEANS THOSE 20%, 10%-20% THAT
01:02:46TURNOUT IN THE PRIMARY ARE
01:02:48LIKELY THE ONES THAT HAVE JUST
01:02:53PICKED THE NEXT CANDIDATE FOR
01:02:55WHATEVER STATE RUN -- STATEWIDE OFFICE. IF SOUTH CAROLINA WAS MORE OF A
01:02:59PURPLE STATE, WHAT WE WOULD SEE HIS PRIMARY CANDIDATES ON BOTH
01:03:02SIDES, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, RUN TO THEIR
01:03:05EXTREMES ARE THE PRIMARY AND THEN ONCE THEY SECURE THE
01:03:10NOMINATION, PIVOT AND HAVE TO RUN BACK TO THE MIDDLE TO PICK
01:03:13UP THE MODERATE VOTERS AND
01:03:17INDEPENDENTS THAT DIDN'T TURN OUT IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION.
01:03:22WE DON'T QUITE HAVE A SIMILAR PHENOMENON IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
01:03:26SO IT IS REALLY A SMALL MINORITY
01:03:29OF THE PARTY THAT GETS TO CHOOSE
01:03:31THAT CANDIDATE, AND 70%-80% OF
01:03:36THE STATE JUST REALLY ISN'T
01:03:39INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS. THEY DON'T SHOW UP, THEY DON'T
01:03:43TURN OUT TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY.
01:03:47AND THEY COULD'VE EASILY SWAYED THINGS IN ANY NUMBER OF DIRECTIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
01:03:51HAD 10 CANDIDATES IN THE FIELD.
01:03:54SO I THINK THE LESSON IS, IS THE PRIMARY IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT
01:03:58MATTERS, AND AS YOU SAID, THAT
01:04:02PLAYS WELL TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MOVE OUT TO THE MORE EXTREME PARTS OF THEIR PARTY.
01:04:06GAVIN: WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS,
01:04:08THE ASSOCIATED DARLINE GRAHAM AS
01:04:12THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR THE
01:04:15SENATE, AGAIN, 89% OF THE VOTES
01:04:19BEING COUNTED BUT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MAKING THAT CALL AT 9:01
01:04:23P.M. FOR SENATOR DARLINE GRAHAM, A DECISIVE VICTORY FOR HER.
01:04:2645 DAYS AGO, SOUTH CAROLINIANS
01:04:30WERE READY TO SEE SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM GO TO BAT FOR HIS
01:04:34FIFTH TERM IN THE SENATE, THEN OF COURSE HE PASSED AWAY AND WE
01:04:36SAW THE GOVERNOR POINT SENATOR GRAHAM TO FULFILL THE REMAINDER
01:04:40OF HIS TERM, AND SHE TURNED AROUND AFTER BEING ASKED BY
01:04:43PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TO RUN FOR THE FULL TERM AND HERE WE ARE, SHE IS THE REPUBLICAN
01:04:48NOMINEE, CONTINUING HER BROTHER'S LEGACY, MOVING FORWARD
01:04:51TO THE GENERAL ELECTION FACE-OFF
01:04:54AGAINST DEMOCRAT DR. ANNE ANDREWS. THIS IS ACUTE -- HUGE MOMENT FOR HER.
01:04:58KIRK: KUDOS TO HER FOR PULLING THIS OFF.
01:05:02YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT SHE HAS EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST MONTH AND HALF.
01:05:05HER BROTHER PASSES AWAY, SOMEONE
01:05:10WHO IS BASICALLY HER SURROGATE FATHER, AND SHE IS IN MOURNING
01:05:13FOR THAT, DEALING WITH ALL THE FAMILY ISSUES THAT COME, GRIEF
01:05:16THAT COMES WITH THAT.
01:05:18SHE THEN GETS APPOINTED TO
01:05:21FULFILL THE REST OF HIS TERM, SO
01:05:24NOW SHE IS UP AND WASHINGTON, D.C., MEETING WITH OTHER
01:05:28SENATORS, SITTING IN ON COMMITTEES, GETTING BRIEFED ON ALL THE ISSUES, TAKING THOSE
01:05:33VOTES, AND THEN SHE IS IN A CAMPAIGN.
01:05:36SO YOU HAVE THREE INCREDIBLY HIGH PRESSURE ENVIRONMENTS THAT
01:05:40SHE IS TRYING TO NAVIGATE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
01:05:44THE FACT THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF TONIGHT I THINK IS TREMENDOUS.
01:05:47GAVIN: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ON
01:05:50THE -- ALL DEMANDS ON HER FOR
01:05:52THE PAST 45 DAYS, HER UPBRINGING
01:05:55ALONG WAS INTERESTING AND DIFFICULT.
01:05:58WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, COMPLETE
01:06:02DIFFERENCE TO CONGRESSMAN RALPH NORMAN WHO IS WELL-OFF AND HAS THAT BACKGROUND AS WELL.
01:06:07BUT WHEN YOU SEE HOW SHE HANDLED
01:06:09HERSELF FOR THE PAST 45 DAYS, YES, THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS OVER
01:06:13HER EXPERIENCE AN OUTSIDER STATUS BUT MAYBE WHAT IS NOT BEING SAID ENOUGH IS THAT SHE
01:06:16REALLY THAT SHE DID NOT REALLY CRACKED UNDER THE PRESSURE.
01:06:20THERE WAS A MOMENT ON THE DEBATE STAGE BUT SHE DIDN'T FALL APART,
01:06:24SHE STUMBLED AND GOT BACK UP. THAT HAS KIND OF BEEN THE ENTIRE
01:06:28GRAHAM FAMILY SINCE SHE WAS IN
01:06:31HER TEENS, THEY ARE CLEARLY SURVIVORS, LIKE SENATOR GRAHAM
01:06:35WAS, MAKING IT THROUGH THOSE
01:06:36PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND NOW HERE
01:06:40IS HIS SISTER MAKING IT THROUGH RUNOFF AND MOVING FORWARD INTO
01:06:43THE GENERAL ELECTION IN A VERY RED STATE WHERE SHE IS EXPECTED
01:06:46TO WIN AS WELL, LIKE HER BROTHER
01:06:49DID, CARRYING THAT TIME, SHOWING THE STRINGS THAT GRAHAM NAME.
01:06:53IT'S REMARKABLE TO SEE. AND OF COURSE DONALD TRUMP MADE ALL THIS HAPPEN.
01:06:57KIRK: HERGET, HER RESILIENCE,
01:07:01THE PERSEVERANCE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS IN THE FACE OF ALL
01:07:02THESE DIFFERENT PRESSURES, JUST
01:07:10COMPOUNDING ON THEMSELVES. THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT DARLINE GRAHAM
01:07:14IS.
01:07:17CERTAINLY SHE HAS TO LEARN THE ROPES ABOUT BEING A SENATOR, AND
01:07:21I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SHE WILL CONTINUE TO GAIN THAT
01:07:25EXPERIENCE, TO LEARN THINGS THAT SHE NEEDS TO.
01:07:31BUT NOW SHE'S GOT THE ADDITIONAL
01:07:33CHALLENGE OF DOING THE RUN FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
01:07:37SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO LEAN INTO THE ISSUES THAT SHE BELIEVES ARE
01:07:42IMPORTANT, OR SHE CAN CRAFT THE
01:07:43BEST NARRATIVE TO RUN AGAINST DR. ANDREWS.
01:07:47GAVIN: WHEN YOU HAVE A CAMPAIGN
01:07:51STAFF LIKE THE GRAHAM MACHINE, YOU HAVE A WASHINGTON STAFFER
01:07:54THE OFFICE BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN, THEY'VE BEEN
01:07:58ENGAGE, THEY HAVE BEEN WITH THE LATE SENATOR FOR DECADES AS WELL AND NOW THEY ARE WITH HER.
01:08:04THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF THIS AS WELL. THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT AND THE
01:08:07CHARACTER OF DARLINE HERSELF AS
01:08:12A SENATOR, AND THAT CAMPAIGN MACHINE HAS BEEN WELL OILED FOR YEARS.
01:08:17THEY NEVER REALLY HAD TO WORK TOO HARD ON THE LATE SINNERS
01:08:21MESSAGING, HE HAD THAT DOWN PAT, BEING SUCH A GREAT COMMUNICATOR.
01:08:24NOW THEY ARE PIVOTING TO HONE IN
01:08:26I WOULD ASSUME ON HER BACKGROUND
01:08:30, BECAUSE THE CHARACTER SEEMS TO ALREADY BE THERE AS WE'VE SEEN
01:08:33OVER THE PAST 45 DAYS. NOW IF THE FINE-TUNING AND
01:08:36LEARNING THE ISSUES FURTHER. BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
01:08:40AFFORDABILITY, FACING OFF AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS, THAT IS THE ISSUE IN NOVEMBER AND THAT
01:08:44WILL BE FASCINATING TO WATCH AS SHE GOES UP AGAINST DEMOCRATIC DR. ANDREWS.
01:08:49KIRK: IT WILL BE CURIOUS, GIVEN
01:08:54HOW CLOSELY SHE HAS TIED HER FORTUNE TO DONALD TRUMP.
01:08:57WITH THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL NUMBERS SEEMINGLY GETTING LOWER AND LOWER WITH EVERY POLL.
01:09:05SHE DOESN'T HAVE A RECORD TO RUN ON HERSELF, SHE IS ESSENTIALLY
01:09:09RUNNING ON HIS RECORD.
01:09:13THEN IT BECOMES A QUESTION OF WHETHER HER ELECTION BECOMES
01:09:15MORE OF A REFERENDUM ON HIM AND SORT OF THE REPUBLICAN MORE
01:09:20BROADLY SPEAKING, OR IF SHE CAN
01:09:25MAKE THIS ABOUT HERSELF. CERTAINLY ANNIE ANDREWS IS GOING
01:09:28TO TRY AND TIME GRAHAM AND TRUMP
01:09:32AND THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN
01:09:34CONGRESS, TIE THEM ALL TOGETHER TO SAY THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR
01:09:38AVERAGE PEOPLE, AND GRAHAM IS
01:09:42GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO COUNTER MESSAGE AGAINST THAT.
01:09:44GAVIN: SO WE WILL HOPEFULLY TRY
01:09:47AND SEE IF WE CAN -- TO SEE HER
01:09:54GET HER ACCEPTANCE SPEECH AFTER SHE GOT THAT NOMINATION FOR THE
01:09:57REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATE SEAT, CARRYING ON HER BROTHERS LEGACY.
01:10:02THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CALL THAT
01:10:03IT NOT A 1:00 P.M., ESSENTIALLY
01:10:08ABOUT TWO HOURS AFTER THE POLLS CLOSED HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
01:10:16HE WANTS TO CONGRATULATE DARLINE
01:10:18GRAHAM ON HER HARD LOT RETREAT,
01:10:22SAYING IT'S A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR SOUTH CAROLINA AND
01:10:26REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS, SAYING REPUBLICANS NEED TO COME
01:10:29TOGETHER TO EXPOSE DEMOCRATS
01:10:32CANDIDATE FOR THE RADICAL LIBERAL THAT SHE TRULY IS.
01:10:34THAT WAS DREW MCKISSICK THERE.
01:10:41STARTING AS OF 9:01, NOT TOO FAR
01:10:47FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. WE HEARD FROM PRESIDENT DONALD
01:10:51TRUMP ON HOW EVERY DEMOCRAT IS A
01:10:55COMMUNIST, THERE IS NOT LIKE
01:10:58CHECKS THE NATION BEHIND THAT, BUT A POINT TO OTHER STATES
01:11:00WHERE THERE'S BEEN A MOVEMENT WITH THE DSA AND OTHER FOLKS AND
01:11:04TRYING TO TIE EVERYONE TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME.
01:11:09I'M WONDERING HOW DEMOCRATS ARE
01:11:10GOING TO COMBAT THAT UNIFIED
01:11:13MESSAGE FROM REPUBLICANS AND WHAT THEY WILL DO TO OVERCOME THAT.
01:11:15KIRK: JUST LIKE ANY ANDREWS IS
01:11:18GOING TO TIE DARLINE GRAHAM TO
01:11:21DONALD TRUMP, THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO TIE ANY ANDREWS TO FOLKS
01:11:25LIKE MAYOR MAMDANI IN NEW YORK
01:11:31OR THE SENATE CANDIDATE IN MICHIGAN, THE RISE OF THE
01:11:34DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OF BERNIE
01:11:36SANDERS AND AOC, BASICALLY TO
01:11:41REINFORCE THE IMAGE THAT ALL
01:11:43DEMOCRATS ARE WOKE SOCIALIST,
01:11:46COMMUNIST, PICK WHATEVER WORD YOU LIKE BEST.
01:11:54BUT REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO TIE ANY ANDREWS INTO THAT NATIONAL PLATFORM.
01:11:58SO WE VERY MUCH HAVE A REFERENDUM, POTENTIALLY, NOT
01:12:02JUST ON THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES, BUT ON THE PARTIES THAT THEY REPRESENT.
01:12:12GIVEN HOW RED SOUTH CAROLINA IS, THE CHALLENGE IS REALLY MORE
01:12:15TOWARD ANY ANDREWS, CAN SHE PIVOT IN SUCH A WAY THAT GIVES
01:12:18HER AN EDGE AND RESONATES WITH
01:12:20MAYBE SOME OF THE INDEPENDENT, MORE MODERATE VOTERS, BOTH
01:12:24DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, TO TRY AND GET THEM TO TURN OUT AND
01:12:28VOTE IN NOVEMBER.
01:12:31GAVIN: AND IT'S A CHALLENGE WITH
01:12:35THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET. I WANT TO QUOTE A STATEMENT FROM
01:12:39DR. ANDREWS WHO IS THE
01:12:41DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATE NOMINEE.
01:12:44DR. ANDREWS SAID, TONIGHT
01:12:48REPUBLICANS NOMINATE A CANDIDATE WHO WAS APPOINTED TO THE SEAT BECAUSE OF HER LAST NAME AND
01:12:52ELEVATED BY DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT AND POLITICAL MACHINE.
01:12:54BUT NO ENDORSEMENT OR FAMILY
01:12:57CONNECTION ENTITLES ANYONE TO SIX YEARS IN THE U.S. SENATE. THE SEAT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE
01:13:01OF SOUTH CAROLINA. NOW SENATOR GRAHAM MUST ANSWER
01:13:04TO THAT.
01:13:12JOIN ME FOR AT LEAST THREE TELEVISED DEBATES ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA HE SLAIN HOW YOU WILL LOWER COST, PROTECT HEALTH CARE AND KEEP OUR RURAL HOSPITALS OPEN.
01:13:16THAT WAS DR. ANY ANDREWS IN A STATEMENT.
01:13:19SHE IS DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATE NOMINEE RIGHT THERE.
01:13:24HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET EVERYONE ON BOARD FOR THAT. WE LOVE HEARING FROM THE
01:13:28CANDIDATES AS WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS GOING FORWARD IN NOVEMBER.
01:13:31YOUR REACTION TO THAT STATEMENT IN CONTRAST TO WHAT WE HEARD FROM DREW.
01:13:34KIRK: I THINK IT WILL BE CURIOUS WHETHER GRAHAM ANSWERS THAT
01:13:38CHALLENGE.
01:13:41ANY ANDREWS, SHE SENSES THEN
01:13:46OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY PIN CALLING GRAHAM DOWN ON A COUPLE
01:13:50OF ISSUES, MAYBE TRIP HER UP A LITTLE BIT AND SOME OF HER
01:13:54ANSWERS. DARLINE GRAHAM ON THE OTHER HAND , SHE HAS BEEN RELATIVELY
01:13:58PROTECTIVE OF HER TIME, WHERE
01:14:01SHE APPEARS, WITH WHOM SHE
01:14:03APPEARS, AND SO SHE MIGHT BE
01:14:08LESS INCLINED TO DO THREE DEBATES, MAYBE IF WE CAN GET
01:14:12TWO, WE MIGHT CONSIDER OURSELVES
01:14:14LUCKY, BUT I THINK GRAHAM VERY MUCH WANTS TO CONTROL THAT
01:14:19MESSAGE, AND ON THE DEBATE STAGE, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE AS MUCH CONTROL.
01:14:24SO THAT WILL BE VERY CURIOUS TO
01:14:26SEE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE TWO
01:14:30CANDIDATES FACE ALL IN PERSON IN
01:14:33THE SAME ROOM AS OPPOSED TO JUST CRAFTING MESSAGES THAT FLY
01:14:38AROUND THE MEDIA SPHERE AND THE INTERNET AND TWITTER AND ALL OF THAT.
01:14:41GAVIN: JUST RECAPPING BEFORE
01:14:45RELIEF, SENATOR DARLINE GRAHAM DID WIN THE GOP NOMINATION FOR
01:14:49THE U.S. SENATE AT 901 P.M.,
01:14:51ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED
01:14:55PRESS, ABOUT EXACTLY TWO HOURS AT THE POLLS CLOSED IN SOUTH
01:14:58CAROLINA, DEFEATING RALPH NORMAN IN THIS RUNOFF ELECTION.
01:15:04IN THIS BUSY, FASCINATING 45 DAYS IN SOUTH CAROLINA FOLLOWING
01:15:07THE PASSING OF HER BROTHER, SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM.
01:15:12HIS SISTER DARTING GRAHAM IS A
01:15:14NOMINEE HEADING INTO NOVEMBER --
01:15:17SHE WILL FACE OFF AGAINST DR. ANY ANDREWS.
01:15:22YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG AT JUNE --
01:15:25YOUTUBE.COM.SCTV NEWS, ALL OF
01:15:29OUR RECAPS AND CAMPAIGN COVERAGE IS THERE, INCLUDING THIS RUNOFF
01:15:33RACE COVERAGE AND A LOT MORE FOR YOU AT 7:30 P.M. ON FRIDAY.
01:15:38THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THROUGH A LOT OF THIS IN THE
01:15:42PAST 45 DAYS. I REPORTERS IN THE FIELD AND
01:15:45AROUND THE STATE.
01:15:58>>