Cook shifted the South Carolina Senate game to opponent Lindsey Graham

Cook’s political report on Monday shifted his outlook for the Senate race in South Carolina to Democrat Jaime Harrison, prompting Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamGraham: UN Security Council rejection of Iran’s arms embargo a ‘big mistake’ GOP senator draws fire from all sides on Biden, Obama-era probes Has Congress passed Russia’s policy? MORE‘s (RS.C.) re-election bid in more competitive territory.

The nonpartisan electoral handicap moved the race from its “likely” Republican column to the “lean” Republican column. That means Graham still has the advantage, but his seat has come into play for Democrats.

A handful of factors contributed to the rating change. Harrison has nearly agreed dollars with Graham for dollars in funds this cycle, raising $ 29 million toward the GOP agency’s $ 30.9 million.

At the same time, the national political climate has shifted in a way that appears favorable to Harrison, a former South Carolina Democratic Party president and the first African-American to serve in that role.

“Protests of racial injustice that the nation carried in June also give Harrison, who is Black, further motivation for expelling African-American voters in the state,” wrote Jessica Taylor, the House of Representatives and editor-in-chief of the governor for The Cook Political Report, in an analysis of the race in South Carolina.

“If Harrison Graham, South Carolina, were the first state to secede from the Union in 1860, it would become the first state in history to serve two Black senators simultaneously, and served with the Republican Senate. Tim ScottTimothy (Tim) Eugene ScottTrump to attend GOP convention every day: reports The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Trump goes further again; no deal on COVID-19 package Why Americans should beat Biden’s tax hike more. ”

Recent polls also suggest a tightening race between Graham and Harrison. A Quinnipiac University poll earlier this month showed that the two candidates were tainted with 44 percent, and other studies by Democratic-leaning companies found that Harrison Graham is trampling by narrow margins.

Graham will still be hard for Democrats to oyster. He won his last re-election bid in 2014 with nearly 16 points, and President TrumpDonald John Trump’s leadership over Trump merges in new national poll Biden finds barriers in bidding to forge ties with US allies. Cheney calls Snowden ‘unconscious’ after Trump says he considers it MORE led the state in 2016 by more than 14 points.

But the polling average of FiveThirtyEight of the South Carolina presidential race shows Trump’s lead over presumptive Democratic nominees Joe BidenJoe BidenBiden’s leadership over Trump merges in new national interview Biden fights obstacles in bid to remove ties with US allies Trump ‘failure’ on COVID-19 will be central message of Biden convention MORE limitation to about 6.5 points. Biden is already doing well with Black voters, who make up more than half of the state’s Democratic voters, and Democrats hope his vote for Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisTrump ‘failure’ on COVID-19 will be central message of Biden Convention Biden and Harris send condolences to Trump after the death of his brother Trump planning event to oppose Biden acceptance speech MAY (D-Calif.) As his running mate will further help stimulate the turnout among Black voters, especially in the South.