NC race key to Republican plans in Senate, SC’s Lindsey Graham tells uptown crowd
Republicans can’t afford to lose North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race in 2022, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said on a rooftop near uptown Charlotte Monday.
Winning control of the House and the Senate, Graham said, will not only give Republicans more power in Washington, but help shape the narrative leading into the 2024 presidential election.
Graham sees North Carolina’s race is a key part of that plan.
“We cannot give up this seat,” he said.
The Senate is currently split 50-50 between the two main parties, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie. In the House, Democrats hold a slim majority with 220 seats to Republicans’ 211.
Budd, Graham hit on national security issues
Graham came to Charlotte to campaign for Rep. Ted Budd, the Republican nominee who represents the state’s 13th Congressional District. Budd faces Democrat Cheri Beasley, the former NC Supreme Court chief justice.
The candidates are competing for the seat held by Republican Sen. Richard Burr, who is not seeking reelection. Polling has remained tight as Election Day, Nov. 8, draws nearer and in-person early voting begins Thursday. Graham’s visit comes two days after Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey visited Charlotte to campaign for Beasley.
Budd and Graham appeared with former U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and Morgan Ortagus, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of State under former President Donald Trump. They focused mainly on national security issues.
They criticized the Biden administration for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying the move fostered a belief among adversarial governments the strength of the West is weakening.
Graham said Budd’s victory in North Carolina would help Republicans take action on key national security issues, including with China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. If Republicans take control, Graham said their first bill would deal with shoring up security along the U.S.’ southern border.
“Ted is a guy who’s going to drive change,” Graham said. “He is ready to go on day one. He understands the world, he understands business and he will be a fabulous senator.”
At Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, Budd vows to lower energy costs
Earlier Monday, Budd met with employees of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, which has been operating since 1901.
Charlotte Foundry Vice Chairman Roddey Dowd, Jr., said transportation costs for the company have increased 25% this year because of rising diesel prices. He’s worried Democrats’ energy plans will further increase prices for his company.
Budd has campaigned on beefing up America’s domestic energy production, saying it will help lower costs across the board, from the pump to the price of new homes in Charlotte.
“We all want clean air. We all want clean water, but you can’t kill your economy,” Budd said.
Abortion remains a key issue in NC Senate race
Across the street from Budd and Graham’s event on West Trade Street, Democrats including state Rep. Rachel Hunt and Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston held an event opposing Budd’s stance on abortion.
Budd co-sponsored a bill in the House that would create a national ban on abortion after 15 weeks. Graham introduced the bill, which includes exceptions in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger.
Abortion remains legal in North Carolina before the 20th week of pregnancy.
Abortion could be a key issue in the race. Beasley has said she supports abortion rights and codifying Roe vs. Wade, the abortion case overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in June.
“We don’t need radical leaders who want to curtail women’s rights,” Hunt said.
This story was originally published October 17, 2022 at 5:48 PM.
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