Graham to skip ETV Senate debate

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham will not participate in an Oct. 13 debate with his challengers on South Carolina Educational Television (ETV). ETV’s Tom Posey told the Associated Press on Thursday that Democratic State Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, and independent petition candidate Thomas Ravenel will instead debate without Graham in a 30-minute program. Both of Graham’s opponents quickly condemned the incumbent for not taking part. “How can Lindsey continue to advocate for American boots on the ground all over the Middle East and beyond when he himself doesn’t have the courage to participate in an hour long debate with me and Thomas Ravenel?” Hutto said in a statement. Meanwhile, Ravenel also released a statement. “Sen. Graham has time to appear on various television talk shows every Sunday morning and trot around the globe with Sen. John McCain, but he can’t be bothered to debate his opponents in his home state? I find that highly arrogant and disrespectful to the citizens of South Carolina, who deserve better.” Graham’s spokesman Tate Zeigler said the campaign is in discussion with other groups and looking at the senator’s schedule for another debate possibility in the future. Libertarian candidate Victor Kocher will not participate in the debate. Voters will head to the polls on Nov. 4.