by MARK POWELL
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For the second time in sixty days, the president of the United States is coming to Palmetto State. And his mission this time is exactly the same as it was the last time: saving interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone’s bacon.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to touch down in the Upstate this Wednesday evening (October 21, 2026). He’ll be the star attraction at a midterm campaign rally at Clemson University’s T. Ed Garrison Arena. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. EDT with Trump expected to speak at around 7:00 p.m. EDT.
The event is part of Trump’s nationwide barnstorming to help Republican candidates in need of a boost in the closing weeks before the November 3, 2026 midterm elections.
South Carolina’s interim senator is clearly one of them…
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Polls consistently show Nordone locked in a very tight race with her Democratic opponent, Lowcounty physician Annie Andrews. Additionally, Libertarian nominee Kasie Whitener is nipping at her heels, along with a boisterous movement of unhappy conservatives who have rallied under the ‘Write-In Ralph’ banner – a bid to write in the name of congressman Ralph Norman which has drawn the ire of the GOP establishment.
A month ago, this seat was still listed by the Cook Political Report as “solid Republican” – meaning there was no way in hell a Democrat was ever going to win it. Today, the race has shifted two spots to the left – from “solid Republican” to “likely Republican” and now from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican.”
Next stop? A pure toss-up…
“Every visit the president makes this close to election day always tells you something,” a national GOP pollster unaffiliated with any South Carolina campaign told us. “Trump’s South Carolina stops tell us two things. First, Darline Graham Nordone is in serious trouble. Secondly, Trump World believes her race is still winnable. Otherwise, they wouldn’t risk putting the president here.”
Our audience will recall Trump rode to Nordone’s rescue exactly two months earlier – bestowing his blessing on her at a rally in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on August 21, 2025 – just four days before the GOP Senate primary runoff for the Republican nomination. Nordone narrowly defeated Norman in that contest – drawing 52.45% of the vote compared to Norman’s 47.55%.
“Trump’s eleventh hour visit didn’t seal the deal for Nordone by itself – but it did put the icing on her cake,” the pollster said. “Now her campaign has got to be wondering if Trump lightning will strike twice?”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
J. Mark Powell is an award-winning former TV journalist, government communications veteran, and a political consultant. He is also an author and an avid Civil War enthusiast. Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? Email him at mark@fitsnews.com.
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SOUND OFF…
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2 comments
I feel embarrassed for Kansas last night after that packed turn out of clapping seals who went to hear and cheer this pathological liar. As Trumpstein correctly noted about a week ago, his supporters will clap for literally anything he says. Hopefully, South Carolina will demonstrate higher intelligence with a much lower turnout.
The orange clown only holds rallies in stupid white trash states because the only people who still support him are stupid white trash.