Donald Trump to help raise money for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina
President Donald Trump will raise money in South Carolina before his North Charleston rally next week — for himself, the Republican Party and the campaign of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The event will mark the first time that Trump has held a Palmetto State fundraiser designed in part to benefit Graham, who is expected to win reelection later this year but is still in a competitive race against a well-funded, establishment-backed Democratic challenger.
According to two sources with direct knowledge of the logistics of the fundraiser, the reception will take place at the North Charleston Coliseum on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 28, prior to Trump’s “Keep America Great” rally scheduled for 7 p.m. that evening at the same location.
An official invitation for the event obtained by The State specified that couples who give or raise $25,000 will receive a photo opportunity with the president. Donors who pay $2,800 apiece will get to attend a “pre-rally reception with VIP special guests.”
Though the invitation does not specify the “the special guests,” official sponsors of the event who could make appearances include Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, RNC Co-Chairman Tommy Hicks, Jr., National Finance Chairman Todd Ricketts, Trump Victory Committee Finance Chairwoman Kimberly Guilfoyle and campaign manager Brad Parscale.
The invitation also does not offer a chance to participate in a round-table discussion with the president in exchange for a $100,000 contribution — an option that was under discussion late last week as the event details were coming together. A source told The State on Tuesday it was still possible donors could be given this opportunity.
Graham’s reelection campaign will get some of the money raised through the event, along with the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee. All three campaigns are listed as recipients in a new joint fundraising committee, “South Carolina Trump Victory,” established and filed with the Federal Elections Commission on Monday.
Trump’s visit to South Carolina will preempt the state’s Democratic presidential primary contest the next day. The president has been holding similar campaign events around the country in early primary and caucus states as a way to make his mark on the eve of Democratic voters casting their ballots for a candidate they’d like to see oust Trump in November.
Since winning the 2016 Republican primary election in South Carolina, Trump has returned to the state on several occasions. He has gone there to assess hurricane damage and accept an award for criminal justice reform legislation, and he has held fundraising and campaign events for Gov. Henry McMaster, one of his earliest and most loyal supporters.
Political observers have been wondering for some time if or when Trump would use his position to also raise money for Graham, his one-time political rival who is now one of his staunchest allies and has yoked his political fortunes to those of the president.
Though Graham is favored to win a fourth term in 2020 in a state where Trump remains enormously popular, he is currently engaged in a staggering money race with Jaime Harrison, the former state Democratic Party chairman who has a clear path to becoming his party’s U.S. Senate nominee.
South Carolina voters know Graham and Trump speak frequently in Washington and play golf together on the weekends. It will, however, give Graham an additional boost for voters — and donors — to see him appear in his own home state alongside the president.
The State reporters Maayan Schechter and Joseph Bustos contributed to this report.
This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 4:44 PM.
