There are several Senate races proving to be a challenge for Republicans in 2020, although the same cannot be said of the Democrats. With Trump’s poll numbers hanging below his challenger in double digits at times, GOP lawmakers have every reason to be running scared.
Today's polling puts these as the closest races and both parties are tied 50-50. So important to support the dems right now.
Perdue*/Ossoff
Graham*/Harrison
Sullivan*/Gross
Marshall*/Bollier
Daines*/Bullock
Tillis/Cunningham*
Ernst*/Greenfield
*Leading by less than 4 points https://t.co/S2dnnvOJRk— Don't blame me – I vote BLUE (@Woodysapsucker) September 12, 2020
As of the time of this writing, only six senatorial candidates are currently lagging behind their challengers in the polls. One is a Democrat, Doug Jones of Alabama, who eked out a win against Roy Moore shortly after Trump’s election. The other five candidates are all Republicans – Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Martha McSalley (R-AZ), Corey Gardner (R-CO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Susan Collins (R-ME).
Graham’s poll numbers have been, more often than not, statistically tied with Harrison. While he has enjoyed a point or two lead from time to time throughout the 2020 campaigns, he’s not dominating in a state that Trump won by 14.2 points in 2016. That doesn’t bode well for the Republican Graham.
Graham, Harrison to face off in three televised debates airing around South Carolina https://t.co/2vPAfVAhOK
— Jamie Self (@jamiemself) September 14, 2020
Until 2020, Graham’s position in the Senate has never been shaky. Only after Graham became Donald Trump’s favorite lackey, shouting on every talk show he can find that will let him praise the president, did his poll numbers begin to indicate that the longtime senator may be past his time.
According to The Washington Post:
‘Graham, 65, has long been a shoo-in in South Carolina, winning Senate races by double digits in three successive races. But now, he is locked in a tight race with Jaime Harrison, 44, who has energized the Black community and suburbs amid significant changes in the state’s population. Graham is being far outspent by Harrison, who has raised a stunning $29 million and has about $10 million for the final stretch.’
Incumbent Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies, is facing a stiff fight from challenger Harrison, and Mace is working to win back the Lowcountry congressional seat Cunningham won in an upset in 2018. https://t.co/WFor7Z1HXC
— The Post and Courier (@postandcourier) September 11, 2020
Harrison will not have an easy fight in South Carolina. The two candidates have been neck-and-neck in polls and Harrison has not held a lead as often as Graham has. But the idea that a Democratic challenger can come this close in the state of South Carolina is indicative of a larger trend, a trend that may turn out to be a blue wave.
‘“South Carolina is really a sleeper race,” said JB Poersch, the head of the Senate Majority PAC, a Democratic group. “Jaime Harrison is going to galvanize African Americans in South Carolina. He could win.”’
Delicious. pic.twitter.com/HnMV9RjOLC
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) September 10, 2020