Lindsey Graham wins support from Constitution Party challenger in SC Senate race
A candidate who is the Constitution Party nominee for U.S. Senate in South Carolina says he will vote for Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham.
Bill Bledsoe, in a news release from the Graham campaign, complimented the three-term senator’s work to confirm more than 200 conservative federal judges appointed by President Donald Trump.
“(Graham) has helped transform our broken, activist judicial system for the better,” Bledsoe said. “President Trump has asked that conservatives stand together and re-elect Lindsey Graham in order to help make America great again, and I agree. Senator Graham is the best choice available.”
Bledsoe said he also plans to vote for Trump.
“We agree on numerous issues like increasing the number of conservative judges on the bench, reducing the national debt, upholding the sanctity of life, and having a strong military,” Graham said. “Dr. Bledsoe and I both recognize that Democrats like Jaime Harrison pose a threat to these values and our beloved state.”
Bledsoe’s name, however, will appear on the ballot as the Constitution Party serves as a training party for conservative candidates to get a taste for running for office.
He added his presence on the ballot probably won’t hurt Graham’s chances. In 2016, when Bledsoe ran for the Senate as the nominee for both the Constitution Party and the Libertarian Party, he garnered 1.83% of the vote.
“I’m not trying to actively replace Lindsey Graham,” Bledsoe said.
Harrison’s campaign argues the Bledsoe’s endorsement actually hurts Graham.
“Bill Bledsoe has called our police force pirates, argued against the need for a standing military, and claimed Lindsey Graham is funded by George Soros,” said Harrison spokesperson Guy King. (Soros is a billionaire philanthropist who supports progressive causes).
“In accepting this endorsement, Lindsey Graham insults our police, our military — and unsurprisingly he once again insults himself,” King added.
Graham and Harrison are in a close race, according to recent polling. Quinnipiac University has the race tied at 48%, and CBS News/You Gov has Graham up 45-44.
An additional ratings agency on Thursday shifted the race to the left as Inside Elections shifted the race from “Leans Republican” to “Tilt Republican.”
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Lindsey Graham wins support from Constitution Party challenger in SC Senate race."
