President Trump to return to SC days ahead of midterms

COLUMBIA — President Donald Trump will return to South Carolina for the second time in two weeks as the November election approaches.

Trump will participate in a midterm rally in Rock Hill on Thursday, according to a news release from the Republican National Committee. The specific location is yet to be announced.

The event is set to begin at 11 a.m., with doors opening at 9 a.m. Trump is scheduled to begin speaking at 12:30 p.m.

His afternoon appearance will allow the president to get back to the White House in time for the annual Halloween event, when he will join first lady Melania Trump to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters.

The visit comes just over a week after Trump’s last appearance in the Palmetto State. The president, who is traveling the country to drum up Republican support in the lead-up to the Nov. 3 election, rallied for U.S. Sen. Darline Graham in Pendleton last Wednesday.

Graham, who was appointed to the seat following the death of her brother, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, is facing Democrat Annie Andrews, a Lowcountry pediatrician, for the term starting in January.

Although South Carolina is generally a Republican stronghold, polls suggest that race might be tighter than expected. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has the race listed as “lean Republican,” making it nearly a tossup.

Also in play is the 1st Congressional District, where Republican Jenny Costa Honeycutt faces Democrat Nancy Lacore. The winner will replace Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who unsuccessfully ran for governor instead of re-election to the coastal House seat.

The Cook Political Report considers that race to “lean Republican” as well. No other U.S. House contest in South Carolina is considered competitive.

Trump rallies support for Graham in pre-election visit to deeply red Upstate

This marks Trump’s third public visit to South Carolina in three months.

His rally for Graham in Myrtle Beach ahead of the GOP special primary runoff in August is credited with helping boost turnout. Graham defeated U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman by 5 points, winning 34 of 46 counties but losing the state’s northwest corner.

Trump’s appearance will come on Norman’s home turf.

Norman lives in Rock Hill, which is part of the 5th District that he represents. The 12 counties Norman won include York County, where he received 64% of the votes. Graham needs Norman’s conservative base to come out and support her.

The announcement comes days after Norman’s son, Warren Norman, wrote in a commentary for FITSNews that he will be voting for Andrews. Ahead of last week’s Trump rally, Norman said during a radio interview that he refuses to help Graham’s campaign, though he pledged to vote for her since he promised to support the GOP nominee.

State Sen. West Climer, who also lives in Rock Hill, is the Republican nominee to replace Norman in the U.S. House. He’s facing Democrat Mallory Dittmer of Fort Mill, located between Rock Hill and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Early voting began Oct. 19 and continues through Saturday.