“Do South Carolinians agree? That IS the question.”
In 2014 Senator Graham ran in the Republican primary and beat 6 other candidates with 56.4% of the vote. The next highest primary challenger, Lee Bright, receive 15.5% of the vote. Graham benefited from a split field and absence of a strong challenger. He also likely benefited from Democrat crossover voters in the primary. Plus he had a huge war chest which allowed him to blanket the state with ads
In the November general election Graham beat his Democrat opponent, Brad Hutto, by a margin of 55.3% to 38.8%. The rest of the vote was split between an independent and the Libertarian candidate. Graham spent $9 million on his campaign versus his Huto’s $342,000. Graham also refused to debate his opponents.
South Carolina voters like their Graham.
Lindsay has access to big money, his opponents don’t. With a big war chest Graham’s message drowns out the opposition plus he can afford a strong ground game.
Graham one of many examples of the power of incumbency. So far he has beaten back every challenger and continues to be take stands which seem to be against hist constituents. South Carolina proves a conservative primary candidate isn’t going to beat an entrenched establishment incumbent on message alone. In 2020 it is going to take a very strong candidate with extremely deep pockets to beat Graham in primaries. So far, that candidate has failed to appear.
Chalk up one more strong reason to repeal the 17th (via COS).
While Linda can corral the popular vote with enough money, a much more conservative legislature, each rep elected with a smaller district, would not select her.
That's a blanket statement that's just not true. He manages to get itself re-elected handily, but I do not know a single person that has ever voted for or even doesn't detest Graham. I have no idea where his votes or money come from, but we are seemingly helpless to rid ourselves of him.
Trump can change that by singling out an opponent friendly to his agenda and encouraging donations and campaigning for a challenger. It’s time Trump goes to war with these Democrat enablers. 2018 needs to be the start of a purge.