Lindsey Graham’s sister in stunning dead heat for his seat that could flip blue for the

Republicans are desperate to save the US Senate seat in South Carolina formerly held by the late Lindsey Graham.

His sister, Darline, who decided to run in his place, is having a tough time shoring up support. 

Now, a New York Times/Siena poll of 707 likely voters released this week showed Darline tied with her Democratic opponent, Annie Andrews, at 48 percent each.

South Carolina has not sent a Democrat to the US Senate since 1998, when Fritz Hollings of Charleston won his final term, serving until 2005. 

President Donald Trump, who became a close friend of Lindsey’s and even spoke at his funeral, has become personally invested in the race, holding multiple rallies for Darline.

Trump has also repeatedly unleashed an unflattering nickname on Andrews, calling her ‘Annie ‘Trannie’ Andrews’ – using a derogatory term for transgender people despite Andrews not being transgender.  

Trump has accused Andrews of backing ‘Transgender for Everyone, Open Borders, Defunding the Police, High Taxes, a Weak Military,’ and efforts to strip Americans of their guns.

Darline Graham campaigns alongside President Donald Trump in Pendelton last week 

South Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews answers questions from members of the media following a campaign event in Winnsboro

‘Trannie is not for South Carolina, and South Carolina must show, in the upcoming Election, that it is not for her. VOTE FOR DARLINE GRAHAM,’ Trump declared in a Truth Social post last month.

Andrews fired back at the time by steering the fight toward kitchen-table issues and her experience as a mother and pediatrician.

One of the biggest criticisms against Darline has been a lack of policy chops. 

Despite supporting her late brother’s career for years, Darline had not previously held elected office.

Lindsey Graham stood with his sister Darline Graham Nordone after formally announcing his campaign for president in 2016

Family photos showing Lindsey Graham and his sister Darline Graham Nordone are shown in a campaign ad

When Darline took the stage next to Trump at a rally in Pendleton, South Carolina, last week, she spoke for less than two minutes and laid praise on the president.

At the rally, Darline called him ‘one of Lindsey’s greatest friends,’ adding that Trump ‘will always be a part of the Graham family.’ 

Last month, the GOP allocated an additional $5 million in South Carolina to support Darline. 

The influx of cash was being sent as an ‘insurance policy,’ per Axios, to keep a seat in Republicans’ hands that Lindsey had always won by more than 10 percent.