Graham’s wit, determination, service remembered

MORNING HEADLINES | South Carolinians remembered the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham Wednesday for his deep commitment and service to South Carolina – as well as his wry wit.

Graham was laid to rest Wednesday in Mount Zion Cemetery in his small Pickens County hometown of Central following a two-hour public service attended by hundreds in Columbia.

Former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy remembered Graham’s path from a small town to the largest halls of power in his funeral eulogy.

“The reason Lindsey resonated with us is because he was us,” Gowdy said. “This undersized kid who was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he was born with a plastic fork in his mouth in Central South Carolina.”

S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster noted how Graham would often crack jokes in tense meetings to smooth out things.

“I recite all these instances just to present a picture of a man I will describe as a full-fledged son of South Carolina, a man of genuine happiness, dedicated to the state and devoted to his friends and to his family,” McMaster said.

Colleagues also remembered his commitment to serving the Palmetto State.

“He was always trying to figure something [out] to make his district better or to make the state of South Carolina better and he never backed off the difficult plan,” retired Upstate S.C. Sen. Greg Ryberg told WSPA TV.

In related news, the special U.S. Senate primary to replace Graham on the November ballot is drawing attention for how it may be another test of President Trump’s clout, The Washington Post reported.

Also, a new poll showed U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., had a narrow edge – 22% to 19% – over Graham’s sister in the primary battle among nine candidates. Darline Graham was appointed by McMaster to fill Graham’s seat until January. The Aug. 11 election is expected to lead to a runoff. Other candidates include U.S. Rep. Russell Fry of Myrtle Beach, Upstate businessman Mark Lynch, and former Gov. and U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford.

The special primary winner will face the Democratic nominee, Mount Pleasant pediatrician Annie Andrews, and third-party candidates in the Nov. 3 general election.

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