‘Pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot’: Trump's appeal to voters ahead of midterms

President Donald Trump urged South Carolina Republicans to "pretend" he was on the ballot and vote for Darline Graham in the upcoming Senate runoff on Tuesday. Speaking at a Myrtle Beach rally, Trump claimed that Republican candidates often struggle to attract the same turnout when he is not contesting an election himself. He urged his supporters to vote as if his name appeared on the ballot, stating that this approach is crucial.

Trump also encouraged his supporters to apply this tactic to other elections, emphasizing that his backing of Graham is part of a broader effort to strengthen Republican support. The former president endorsed Graham despite her stumble during a recent debate, where she admitted that national security was not her area of expertise. Trump defended her response, calling it a "very honest answer."

Graham, who is running against Republican US Representative Ralph Norman to fill the Senate seat left vacant by her late brother, Lindsey Graham, has embraced the criticism of her lack of conventional political experience. She has focused her campaign on domestic conservative issues, such as restricting transgender rights, supporting Trump's immigration agenda, and opposing abortion access.

The runoff election will test Trump's influence with Republican voters, as the race is seen as a proxy for his personal popularity. Trump's intervention in the race comes as Republicans prepare for the November midterm elections, when control of Congress will be at stake.