Interim Senator Darline Graham told a debate audience she is "not that informed on national security."
The jaw-dropping moment happened during a Republican primary runoff debate in South Carolina on Tuesday, as reported here. Graham, who currently holds the Senate seat on an interim basis, was squaring off against U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman ahead of their August 25 runoff. The two are battling for the GOP nomination for a full six-year term.
Veteran journalist Greta Van Susteren was moderating the event, which was hosted alongside South Carolina ETV and Public Radio. She lobbed a pretty standard foreign policy question at Graham, asking whether Taiwan and the South China Sea represent national security concerns for America, and if so, why.
What followed was the kind of clip that political operatives dream about getting their hands on.
"I'm just going to be honest here," Graham said before dropping the bombshell. "I'm not that informed on national security." She then pivoted to mentioning her late brother's Air Force service and doubled down by saying, "National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military."
The video spread across social media like wildfire. South Carolina state Rep. Adam Morgan posted the clip on X, calling it a "stunning debate flop" and pointing out that the biggest knock against Graham has been questions about her qualifications for a six-year Senate term.
So how did Darline Graham end up in the United States Senate in the first place? Governor Henry McMaster appointed her following the death of her brother, the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away last month at age 71 after suffering a cardiac event. Lindsey had already locked up the Republican nomination before his passing.
Before stepping into the Senate, Darline Graham's career was in vocational rehabilitation, and she previously led the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. She jumped into the race for a full term shortly after McMaster tapped her for the interim appointment.
A special Republican primary took place on August 11 with a crowded field that included Norman, U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, former Governor Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark Lynch. Graham topped the field with just over 30 percent of the vote, sending her into the runoff against Norman.
Despite the debate stumble, Graham has racked up some heavyweight backing. President Donald Trump has endorsed her, and third-place finisher Russell Fry threw his support behind her as well.
But endorsements and debate performances are two very different animals. Voters heading to the polls now have to decide whether someone who openly confesses that national security is "not my thing" should represent them in Washington for the next six years. Early voting kicks off the day after this debate aired, so the timing of this viral moment could not be worse for her campaign.
Ralph Norman has to be grinning from ear to ear right about now.
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