She has President Trump's endorsement and is a sympathetic figure after the death of her brother, Sen. As Graham's temporary replacement, she's a symbol of the political brand he built over more than two decades in the Senate.Driving the news: Even so, Darline Graham faces an uphill battle to win a full Senate term in November, Republicans in D.C. and her home state of South Carolina tell Axios.South Carolina's rapidly approaching Aug.
11 primary has become a test of whether those advantages are enough to carry the late senator's sister — a political novice suddenly swept into the limelight — to a six-year term in Congress' upper chamber.Skeptics throughout the GOP party are surprised Trump endorsed Darline Graham for a full term so quickly after Gov. Henry McMaster picked her to serve the last few months of her brother's term. Trump "just likes her" is a common theory.They also note other Republican leaders have been more wary: She hasn't been endorsed for a full term by any Senate leaders or McMaster.Zoom in: A half-dozen GOP operatives pointed to three reasons why all those advantages may not be enough for Darline Graham to get elected:1.
The Graham name cuts both ways.Lindsey Graham never fully won over South Carolina's conservative base, which was skeptical of his bipartisan dealmaking, support for immigration reform and past criticism of Trump.That was evident in the GOP special primary in June, when Graham failed to crack 60% of the vote despite facing lesser-known opponents who had a fraction of his war chest.The operatives expect Darline Graham to inherit her brother's ceiling of support."She's going to be closely linked [to Lindsey], so voters will base their decision on how they feel about him," said Scott English, a former chief of staff to ex-Gov. Mark Sanford who said he's staying neutral in the Senate race.2. She really is an unknown.The operatives and other Republicans say South Carolina voters know the Graham name — but not Darline Graham.The special primary's tight timetable benefits better-known candidates such as Rep.
Ralph Norman, who built a statewide profile in his unsuccessful bid for governor.Also in the running is Rep. Russell Fry, who spent seven years in the state legislature.Several early polls have shown Graham trailing in the GOP race."She has a lot of work to do to win over the constituents that she hasn't had…
Summary from source