Ralph Norman Pans Trump’s ‘Shocking’ Efforts to Boost Darline Graham — Urges Jilted Supporters to Vote for Him as Write-in

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) whined about President Donald Trump throwing his support behind Darline Graham (R) in her victorious Republican primary bid in South Carolina, with the conservative lawmaker griping four times about the president’s “shocking” involvement in the race.

Norman shared his displeasure with Trump on Monday while speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C. He said that while he remains a Trump “supporter,” he could not believe how strongly the president campaigned for Graham, who is aiming to replace her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), full-time in Congress.

“It’s his right to do that, but as many places as we’re in trouble with liberals, he comes to South Carolina. Ronald Reagan would not do that,” Norman vented.

A reporter then asked Norman if Trump’s stumping for Graham doomed his primary bid.

“Oh yeah. Look, he’s popular. I know that,” Norman said. “But to get on the phone and tell congressmen to switch their votes to promote somebody… ya’ll saw the debate. But he’s got every right to do that — it was just shocking to me.”

Norman was referring to the debate flub where Graham admitted she was “not that informed on national security.” The comment was skewered by many, including lame duck Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Graham went on Sean Hannity’s show soon after to try and clean up the mess, saying she doesn’t “speak politician.”

Trump defended Graham after the blowback she got from the debate, saying she was “very smart” and “was being honest.”

“She is going to do what the military wants, and really what the president wants,” Trump said.

The debate ultimately didn’t matter, as Graham wound up defeating Norman in the state’s GOP Senate runoff last week.

Norman complained several more times to reporters about how he was stunned by Trump boosting Graham, before suggesting voters still vote for him as a write-in candidate.

When asked what he would tell voters now, Norman replied: “Vote for Ralph Norman.”

Watch above via C-SPAN.

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