Graham, Norman clash in Senate debate

South Carolina Republican Senate candidates Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman debated policy and traded sharp personal attacks Tuesday night, intensifying their contest in the Aug. 25 runoff to fill the seat of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The debate, held at the Newberry Opera House, provided voters with their most direct comparison of the two candidates ahead of the decisive vote.

The runoff was triggered after no candidate won a majority in the Aug. 11 special primary, where Graham finished first and Norman second. Graham, the late senator's sister, was appointed as interim senator by Gov. Henry McMaster and is endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Norman, a U.S. Representative, frames himself as the more experienced, proven conservative in the race.

Candidates addressed a range of national and state issues, often finding agreement on broad principles but differing in their attacks on each other. On the national debt, both cited the need for government cuts. Graham highlighted her experience reducing duplication in state agencies, while Norman said Congress needs "more courage" to make cuts. On Iran and gas prices, both emphasized the need to reopen the Strait...