Fox News Shocked As SC Senate Race Turns Dead Heat
Fox News just changed its forecast on the South Carolina Senate race. The network moved the contest from "Lean Republican" to a pure toss-up. This shift comes just days before the election. New polling shows the two candidates tied at 48% each. Incumbent Sen. Darline Graham is now facing a dead heat with Democratic challenger Annie Andrews.
President Trump is heading back to the Palmetto State. He plans a second visit this month to rally voters for Graham. She was appointed to fill her late brother's seat. The race was once considered safe for Republicans. Now, the outcome hangs in the balance.
According to Fox News, the Senate majority is still up for grabs. Six states will decide who controls the chamber. On a good night for Democrats, they could reach 54 seats. A strong Republican performance might see them keep control with up to 52 seats. On the generic ballot, Democrats lead by 11 points according to latest national polls. That trend seems to be hitting South Carolina hard.
The Washington Examiner reported that Fox News made this rating change on Tuesday. The outlet noted the race had previously favored the Republican side. Other groups have also softened their views. The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as "lean Republican." They changed this from "likely" just last week. Sabato's Crystal Ball also moved the rating from "safe Republican" to "leans Republican" on Oct. 6.
Not everyone in the local party is happy with the current situation. In her primary runoff versus Rep. Ralph Norman, Sen. Graham performed below expectations. She beat him by five percentage points in late August. Following his defeat, Norman stated he would back Graham. Yet he noted that his family does not share this sentiment. He has criticized Trump's strong backing of Graham.
Norman framed his support for the President's choice as "just not right." He believes the race would not be this close if he had won. He is not the only one worried about the polling data. Republicans have voiced strong distrust regarding recent midterm polls. They feel the numbers do not match the ground reality.
The path to victory is narrow for both sides. Graham is seeking a full term after her appointment. She needs to win over voters who stayed home in the primary. Andrews is trying to capitalize on the national mood. The generic ballot numbers suggest a tough week ahead for Republicans. Every vote will count in these final days.
