Darline Graham, a candidate in the runoff election for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina, drew attention during Tuesday night's debate when she struggled to answer a question about foreign policy. She was asked, "Are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States and if so, why or how?" Graham began her response by saying, "I'm just going to be honest here."
"I'm not that informed on national security," she said, then paused. "But I do support the military." Graham's brother, Lindsey, died unexpectedly on July 11. She was appointed to fill his seat temporarily and is now running in a special election for her own term. Her opponent is Rep. Ralph Norman.
Her answer was noteworthy because her late brother was known for his involvement in foreign policy, something that Graham mentioned in her response. "My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years so I will do everything I can to support the military," she said. "My dad was in the Army. I'm not a polished politician up here, national security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military."
Graham has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. She and Norman advanced to the runoff in last week's primary.