The South Carolina Senate race between Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) and Democrat Annie Andrews was shifted to a “toss-up” by Fox News on Tuesday, just days before voters cast their ballots in the midterm elections.
The outlet’s rating change moved the race in favor of Andrews, as it previously rated the battle as “leans Republican.” Recent polling puts the two candidates in a dead heat, but Republicans have been outspoken in their distrust of recent midterm polling.
While Fox News has moved the race to a “toss-up,” other analysts still view Republicans as holding an edge.
Cook Political Report has gradually moved the race from safe for the GOP and currently rates the race as “lean Republican,” which it changed from “likely” last week. Sabato’s Crystal Ball ratings moved the race from “safe Republican” to “leans Republican” on Oct. 6.
President Donald Trump is headed back to the Palmetto State for a second time this month in an effort to rally Republican voters behind Graham, who is seeking the full term after she was appointed to fill her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham’s seat.
Graham won the special primary runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) in late August, beating her opponent by five percentage points. Since his loss, Norman has said he would support Graham, but added that his family does not feel the same way.
Norman has criticized Trump’s staunch backing of Graham, framing his support as “just not right.” He said if he had won over Graham, the race would not be as close.
MANY OF ANNIE ANDREWS’S SUPPOSED REPUBLICAN BACKERS HAVE HISTORY OF SUPPORTING DEMOCRATS
The race for South Carolina’s Senate seat had been safely Republican in the hands of the late Graham, but since his younger sister secured the nomination, the GOP appears to be on shaky ground.
Graham has faced several attacks targeting her political experience, as her brother was viewed as a foreign policy hawk and a senior member of Congress. As part of the criticism of her experience, some have framed her nomination as nepotism.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
