“While there are still major obstacles that remain [Democratic nominee Jaime] Harrison to become the first Democrat elected to the South Carolina Senate since 1998, it is clear that this race is becoming more competitive, and Graham faces an incredibly strong challenge. “
Whoa. Big deal.
Graham has enjoyed the trip a lot since he last came to voters in 2014, winning a third term with 17 points. Since then he has:
Like I said, it’s been a few years for Graham. And it now appears that the entire political card has been paid for by the Republicans of South Carolina.
Harrison, a former South Carolina Democratic Party chairman, has raised a whopping $ 29 million for his race against Graham – fueled by Democratic donors who see the GOP senator as anything wrong with the Republican Party in the time of Trump.
To be clear: Harrison still needs record Black turnout (the state’s population is 27% African Americans) and solid support among fellow-educated whites to have a chance to knock out Graham. The state remains conservative at its core; There is a reason that Fritz Hollings, a Conservative Democrat, was the last member of his party to sit in a South Carolina Senate.
But Trump’s persistent crackdown on the coronavirus pandemic – and the low ratings with high school education give him support for it – as well as the national debate on race (and the involvement of African-Americans in voting against Trump) the coalition make Harrison possibly necessary.
Graham has proven since winning a Senate back in 2002 that he is a handsome pole and champion. However, his rollercoaster republicanism of recent years has made him the most serious race of his time in politics.
The point: Beating Graham is not necessary for Democrats to take up this majority this fall. But they would certainly want to do it anyway.
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