President dials in with message for Republicans to help Graham – Coastal Observer

President dials in with message for Republicans to help Graham – Coastal Observer

Secretary of State Mark Hammond was talking about campaign contributions at this week’s Georgetown County GOP meet-and-greet event when U.S. Rep. Russell Fry interrupted, holding a cell phone to his ear. The crowd of nearly 300 at Pawleys Plantation didn’t seem to mind the interruption when they discovered it was President Donald Trump on the line. The audience erupted in whistles, cheers and applause once Fry introduced him and put the president on speaker. Trump spoke briefly on highway construction and built environments to the crowd. “We’re going to get that highway built and all those other things you want to get built in South Carolina,” Trump said. “We’re going to get them built 100 percent.” Sen. Darline Graham was in attendance among other Republican candidates up for election in November including David Stumbo, who is running for attorney general, Mike Reichenbach, who is running for lieutenant governor, Solicitor Jimmy Richardson, state Rep. Lee Hewitt, County Council Member Clint Elliot and Bill Ringer, a candidate for Council District 6. Drew McKissick, the state GOP chair, also joined. Cody Simpson, a candidate for commissioner of agriculture, and Attorney General Alan Wilson, who is running for governor, were unable to attend. “You just get out there and work hard for Darline because she’s running against a real loser,” Trump said, referring to Graham’s Democratic opponent Annie Andrews. That was met by laughter and applause. Audience members chanted “U.S.A.” and shouted replies out to him. Fry told Trump he was at a meeting and asked him if he’d say hello.  “Joe Biden wouldn’t do that,” Trump said. “Have a good time everybody.” “We were trying to pull that off,” said Jerry Rovner, chair of the state GOP 7th Congressional District. Originally Graham wasn’t due to make an appearance at this week’s event. “I’m telling you right now, nobody is ready for this election to be over more than I am,” Graham said. She remembered her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham who died in July at age 71. It was unexpected and she misses him. “I know a lot of people in this room miss him, too,” she said. “It’s just amazing what impact he made on so many people.” Less than 24 hours after his death, Graham said she was asked to fill her brother’s vacancy. She prayed on it and talked to her family before making a decision, she said. “I have never had any desire to be a politician,” she said. “But it didn’t take me long.” She was sworn in to fill her late brother’s unexpired term July 14 just three days after his death She had a meeting the day after with Trump in the Oval Office. “I walked out of there and I had just agreed to run for six years,” Graham said. She’s proud to be the Republican nominee, Graham sad. She said she learned the value of work ethic from her parents as she was growing up. “I learned that nothing is free but you work for everything you get,” she said. Graham spoke from her experience of nearly 30 years in roles with Clemson University, the state Department of Employment and Workforce and the state Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. She talked about casting votes that oppose abortion and support gun ownership rights. Graham also said she cast the deciding vote confirming Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. “I’m going to work really hard to bring resources back to this state,” she said, such as to help infrastructure, schools and local police departments. “Lindsey always did that, and I want to continue doing that.” Graham pivoted to talk about Democrats, including Andrews who she said is acting as a moderate Republican. “Voters beware. Do not be deceived by that,” Graham said. She then discussed how they differ on stances regarding abortion, gun control, immigration and taxes. “And the craziest one of all, she’s a pediatrician that can’t even define what a woman is,” Graham said. Leticia Remaruo, the former chair of her county GOP club in Staten Island, was one of the most vocal audience members during Graham’s remarks. “To move from New York to South Carolina where people are just solid Republican, where you can be a Republican proudly, is a wonderful thing,” she said. “It starts here and then it’s contagious.” When Graham was first appointed to the Senate seat, Remaruo said she was a bit skeptical. “I don’t like succession,” she said. “She won me over because she is herself.” One man who’s a member of the county GOP who declined to share his name said that he thinks Graham will carry on her brother’s legacy and focus on local state issues. Local politicians remembered the late senator for his attention and actions to pertinent issues in Georgetown County. “She’s not a politician but I think she’ll carry it forward,” he said. Graham acknowledged she’s not a career politician but she knows one thing, she said. “I’ve passed more conservative votes in my first two months up here than she will pass in six years. I can guarantee you that,” Graham said. She encouraged Republicans to vote in November’s election. “If Republicans don’t get out and vote for Republican nominees, the Democrats are going to win,” Graham said. “That’s going to be a scary day.”