MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Is Lindsey Graham Covid-19 positive? Senator slammed after he refuses test: 'Too fearful to debate Jamie Harrison'

Internet was abuzz that Graham feared his opponent Harrison and started trending #LindseyGrahamHasCovid, speculating that Graham has contracted the virus

Do Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham fears his Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison? This is what the Internet asks after the South Carolina Senate debate scheduled for Friday, October 9 night between the two candidates got canceled and was instead held with the changed format. This came after Graham rejected Harrison's request to take a Covid-19 test before the debate. As per the new format, the two candidates will take part in individual interviews instead of a debate that will be aired from local station WSPA in Spartanburg. They will be asked a series of questions from the forum moderator Amy Wood from 7 News and panelists Anchor Gordon Dill of 7 News and Carolyn Murray of WCBD News 2. 

The change in the format comes after Harrison issued a statement on Thursday, October 8 stating that he would not debate in person if Graham -- the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who attended an October 1 hearing with Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican who tested positive for the virus last week – did not get tested for the virus before the debate, CNN reported. 

In the statement, Harrison said he, the moderators of the debate, and the panelists all agreed to get tested and questioned why Graham would not. "If Sen. Graham will not take a coronavirus test, I cannot responsibly debate in person tomorrow night and allow politics to put my family, my campaign staff, Sen. Graham's staff, and members of the media at unnecessary risk," Harrison’s statement said.

Harrison also posted on Twitter about his decision to not participate in the debate on October 9. The video message was captioned, “Folks, I was looking forward to debating Lindsey Graham tonight. But because of his refusal to take a basic COVID test, we weren't able to be on stage together, debating the issues that are so important to our state. It's my hope that we'll be able to change this next time.” In his video Harrison persistently asked, “Why does Lindsey Graham get a test.” In another Tweet, Harrison targeted Graham, “You talk a big game on COVID relief, Lindsey Graham SC. You're a sitting senator. Why haven't you done more to help South Carolina families struggling during this pandemic?” 

However, Graham rejected that request saying that he has previously tested negative and will abide by the already agreed-upon safety rules. "Whether Mr. Harrison attends tomorrow's debate is his decision, not mine. I will be there," Graham said in a statement as reported by CNN.
 
Graham wrote on October 9 in a series of Tweets, “Appears Harrison Jaime is skipping tonight's debate. Mr. Harrision is ducking the debate because the more we know about his radical policies, the less likely he is to win. It's not about medicine, its politics. His liberal views are a loser in South Carolina - and he knows it!” Cornering Harrison, Graham wrote, “Mr. Harrison is demanding special treatment. Other than Mr. Harrison, is any other South Carolinian demanding every person they come in contact with be tested before they meet?” 

Graham, a three-term senator and staunch defender of President Donald Trump, is facing stiff competition with Harrison. At the same time, Graham is leading a charge to quickly confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to SCOTUS.

No sooner than Graham rejected the request to get tested, the Internet was abuzz with comments that centered around if he feared his opponent Harrison. People started trending #LindseyGrahamHasCovid and speculated if he has contracted the virus.Palmer Report tweeted, “Lindsey Graham refuses to take coronavirus test, cancels Senate debate. Mike Pence looks ill, cancels campaign events, and disappears. And these guys want us to believe they don't have coronavirus? #LindseyGrahamHasCovid.” 

A user tweeted, “There is no shame in being gay. There is no shame in having Covid. There is tremendous shame in being closeted about both.#LindseyGrahamHasCovid.”  A user urged to take a test, “Of course Senator Graham could refute this #LindseyGrahamHasCovid hashtag by just taking a COVID-19 test. Just saying.” Another user alleged, “#LindseyGrahamHasCovid and wants a chance to infect his opponent. Just like Trump.” 

Another questioned on Graham, “Why is Lindsey Graham being allowed to debate in person without a negative COVID test given the number of people in his circle who are currently sick and/or in quarantine? Since when is it ok to put others at risk for your own ego?#LindseyGrahamHasCovid #scsenatedebate.” A user lashed at Graham, “Does #LindseyGrahamHasCovid or is he just a coward? Why not both?”  Another concurred, “Graham won’t take a Covid test because he’s too fearful to debate Jaime Harrison again. Graham knows it will only hurt his chances for re-election further. Graham made his Trump bed. Now he’s lying in it.” 

These remarks were made by the internet and individual organizations, MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) cannot confirm them independently and nor does it support these claims being made on the Internet.