Sen. Lindsey Graham has a widened lead against his Democratic opponent Jaime Harrison in what is expected to be one of the closest Senate races, according to a statewide poll released Tuesday.
The Republican from South Carolina has 48% support, compared to Harrison’s 42% support, the Morning Consult poll found. The survey was conducted among 903 likely voters from Oct. 2 to Oct. 11, after President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Graham has an outsize role in Barrett’s hearings, given that he is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Soon after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died and Trump expressed his intent to nominate a replacement, Graham said he was ready to confirm a justice prior to the Nov. 3 election.
Past Morning Consult polls of the race between Graham and Harrison have shown the race as being much closer, even statistically tied. Quinnipiac University and CBS News/YouGov polls from September had candidates tied at 48% support each and Graham leading by a 1-point margin, respectively.
The Cook Political Report moved the competitive South Carolina race from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up” on Wednesday.
“It’s a jump ball at this point,” a South Carolina Republican strategist was quoted as saying. “Jaime is peaking at exactly the right time, and he’s got a deluge of money. [Harrison] is blocking every pass there is from Republicans.”
Harrison has taken in massive amounts of funds during his campaign. He reported a whopping $57 million raised during 2020’s third quarter, shattering the U.S. record for the largest fundraising haul of a Senate candidate during a single-quarter period.
The Morning Consult poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 6 points.
Author: Zachary Halaschakri
Source: Washington Examiner: Lindsey Graham ahead 6 points in Senate race: Poll
