Scott: ‘There’s no doubt’ Darline Graham is qualified to be senator

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said Sunday that “there’s no doubt” his fellow South Carolina Republican Darline Graham is qualified to be a senator after her recent debate slip-up on an answer about national security.

“Sen. Scott, is Darline Graham qualified to be a U.S. senator?” NBC News’s Kristen Welker asked Scott during his “Meet the Press” appearance Sunday.

“Well, there’s no doubt, Kristen. Darlene Graham is the real deal,” Scott responded, adding later that Graham “is ready to take on the issues that everyday Americans are facing.”

“One other thing that’s really important: I watched her on the campaign trail. I watched her go through two funerals for her brother, and then I watched her carefully for 30 days in the Senate, casting deciding votes for the [attorney general], working on getting her first bill passed, the Russia sanctions bill. What did I assess? Highly qualified, incredibly competent, ready for prime time,” Scott said.

On Friday, President Trump defended Graham after she said during the South Carolina GOP Senate primary debate earlier this week that she is “not that informed on national security” but supports “the military.” She had been asked if Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security issues for the U.S.

Trump gave his support to the South Carolina senator as he was headed to Myrtle Beach, S.C., where he rallied alongside her later Friday, only a few days prior to the state’s Republican runoff.

The president has endorsed Graham since she was appointed to finish the rest of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.), term.

“She’s very smart, and she was being honest. She’s into the price of groceries. … She is going to do what the military wants, and really what the president wants,” Trump said Friday before leaving for South Carolina.

“She understands that national security is my thing. … I thought it was a very honest answer,” the president continued.