00:02South Carolina Republicans vote today in a Senate runoff that has become a big test,
00:08not just for the two candidates, but for President Trump.
00:11Senator Darlene Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham,
00:15faces Congressman Ralph Norman for the Republican nomination.
00:19Graham finished first in this month's special primary,
00:22but fell short of the majority needed to avoid today's runoff.
00:26Graham had never held public office before Governor Henry McMaster
00:30appointed her to serve out her brother's term following his death last month.
00:35Now she's trying to win a full six-year term,
00:38with Trump putting some serious political capital behind her.
00:41Trump flew to Myrtle Beach on Friday to campaign for Graham,
00:45even telling supporters to pretend he was the one on the ballot to get them to the polls.
00:50I elect Senator Darlene Graham to fight, fight, fight for South Carolina and to always put America first.
00:59She only knows how to put America first.
01:02She will be somebody you're going to be very proud.
01:05You vote for her, you're going to be very proud of that vote.
01:08And Trump's political operation is putting money behind that endorsement.
01:12New campaign finance filings show his mega-incorporated Super PAC has spent more than $827,000
01:20on phone calls and text messages supporting Graham.
01:23It's the Super PAC's first significant spending this year on one of Trump's chosen candidates.
01:28But Norman is no political newcomer.
01:31He's a five-term congressman who finished second in the primary,
01:35and he's trying to turn Graham's lack of experience into a liability.
01:39That argument got some help during last week's debate when Graham struggled with a question about Taiwan.
01:45Today, Republican voters get the final say.
01:48The winner faces Democrat Annie Andrews in November in a state Trump carried by 18 points two years ago.
01:55Polls close tonight at 7 Eastern.
