I think that Cash is our best bet to beat Graham in the runoff (assuming that Graham can be held under 50% in the first round) because he has a good profile for a Senate candidate in SC, has experience running in tough races, and does not have the baggage that Bright has. Bright already has said and done things that Graham will use against him in attack ads (financial and tax problems with his business, saying “if at first you don’t secede, try, try again”), and I think he’s likelier to say something stupid during the runoff campaign than would the more polished Cash. And since Cash is no less conservative than Bright, I am not tempted at all to support Bright over Cash.
As for how Cash could be at around 5% in the most recent polls (with Bright at like 13%) if Cash is a better candidate than Bright, well, voters aren’t always well informed and don’t always make the best decisions. Cash still has time to catch up to Bright and hopefully outpoll him in the primary, but he needs to get moving.
And I agree with the statements that if one of the GOP congressmen run against Graham that Graham would be toast. But it’s too late for anyone else to run.
I have to wonder why none of them stepped up the challenge Graham. It can’t have been unknown how weak and unpopular he was.