South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race shifted into toss-up territory Thursday, reflecting a dead heat between appointed Republican Sen. Darline Graham and Democratic challenger Dr. Annie Andrews in a state Donald Trump carried by 18 points two years ago.
President Trump traveled to the state’s Upstate region Thursday night to rally support for Graham, Fox News reported. The visit comes after Graham underperformed in that area during a contentious primary runoff against U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman. A New York Times/Siena poll released this week showed Graham and Andrews tied at 48 percent among likely voters, prompting Fox News to move the contest from “Lean R” to “Toss-up.”
Battle over qualifications and party divisions
Andrews, a physician, leads Graham 57 percent to 37 percent among independent voters, CNN reported. Polling indicated voters favored Andrews on credentials, with a net 13-point margin saying she holds the right experience to serve effectively. In contrast, voters said by seven points that Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, lacks that experience.
Only 35 percent of Republicans strongly agreed that Graham possesses the right background for the post, according to the Times/Siena survey. Meanwhile, GOP efforts to label Andrews as an extremist have gained limited traction, with only 39 percent of likely voters viewing her as too far to the left.
Internal Republican divisions have also lingered following Graham’s primary runoff. Speaking after a Tuesday rally in Greenville, Andrews addressed a grassroots write-in push for Norman, FOX Carolina reported. Andrews noted that Norman’s son, Warren Norman, endorsed her campaign and suggested that dissatisfied voters could remove her in six years if she fails to deliver on promises.
“I think that’s South Carolinians who we know have an independent streak rejecting this premise that Washington, D.C. is going to pick our next senator,” Andrews told FOX Carolina.
The national fight for the majority
South Carolina is not the only state seeing unexpected volatility. Fox News reported that the battle for the Senate majority remains a toss-up across six decisive states, with Democrats currently favored in 48 seats and Republicans leading in 46. Because the vice president breaks ties, Republicans need 50 seats to retain control.
Fox News also shifted Ohio from a toss-up to “Lean D,” where former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown leads Republican incumbent Sen. Jon Husted 52 percent to 47 percent. In Mississippi, another conservative stronghold, the network moved the race between Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic District Attorney Scott Colom from “Solid R” to “Likely R” following Trump’s campaign appearance there earlier in the week.
In Minnesota, Democratic hopes solidified as a Times/Siena poll found Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan leading Republican Michele Tafoya 54 percent to 40 percent, dampening GOP ambitions for an upset in the state, according to CNN.
National headwinds confront Republicans
Republicans across the country are grappling with headwinds tied to foreign policy and economic anxiety. Trump’s national approval rating has slipped to 36 percent, down from 44 percent prior to the start of joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran in February, Fox News reported.
In an October Fox News survey, majorities expressed concern over inflation, fuel prices, government leadership, and the war in Iran, with voters favoring Democrats to handle all four issues by wide margins. Whether those issue advantages can overcome conservative voting history in states like South Carolina will be decided when voters head to the polls on Nov. 3.
