Darline Graham

Norman says Trump's involvement in SC Senate primary was "shocking"

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman suggested voters write his name in for the November general election after his primary loss.

Norman lost the Republican Senate primary runoff to Sen. Darline Graham, who now faces Democrat Annie Andrews.

Norman expressed surprise at President Donald Trump's involvement in the primary on behalf of Graham.

Coming off a close loss in the Republican Senate primary, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman suggested that voters write his name in as their choice in the November general election.

Sen. Darline Graham defeated Norman in the Aug. 25 runoff and now faces Democrat Annie Andrews for the opportunity to serve a full six-year term.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 31, Norman said "it was just shocking to me" that President Donald Trump got personally involved in the primary.

Video of the interview was captured by C-SPAN.

"Ronald Reagan wouldn't do that," he said, adding that he remains supportive of Trump.

On the Friday before the runoff vote, Trump visited Myrtle Beach to speak in support of Graham, who was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to complete the term of her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Asked what he would tell voters who haven't made up their minds about the November election, Norman said, "Vote for Ralph Norman."

In a follow-up question, Norman was asked if he was open to campaigning on behalf of Graham. He responded by saying that her campaign took funding from "liberal PACs."

He pointed to support Graham received from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska who is regarded by many as a moderate.

Norman added that Graham "hasn't called me."

Efforts to reach the Graham and Andrews campaigns for reaction were unsuccessful.

Winthrop University political scientist and public opinion researcher Scott Huffmon said he doesn't expect Norman to mount much of write-in campaign.

"No disrespect to Congressman Norman, but he's not Strom Thurmond," Huffmon said, referring to Thurmond's famous 1954 election to the U.S. Senate as a write-in candidate.

As for Norman's less-than-supportive comments about Graham, he doesn't think it will hurt Graham significantly in the general election.

"The regular, non-fringe Republicans are going to vote for her. The MAGA folks are going to vote for her," he said.

"And the fringe folks? Are they really going to risk a Democrat winning just to make the point that they actually wanted someone more conservative?"

Huffmon offered one caveat: "If (Norman) goes on a barn-storming tour pushing the write-in, the dynamics of this election will change."