A recently released poll shows a neck-and-neck South Carolina Senate race for a seat once considered safe for Republicans.
The South Carolina Policy Council Fall Poll, first reported by FOX Carolina on Oct. 26 and published the following day, shows incumbent Republican Sen. Darline Graham leading Democratic challenger Annie Andrews by one percentage point.
The poll found that Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, had 47% support, compared with 46% for Andrews. Other candidates combined for 3%, and 4% of respondents were undecided.
By comparison, the poll showed Republican Alan Wilson leading Democrat Jermaine Johnson by 10 percentage points in the governor's race.
The poll, conducted by Targoz Market Research, surveyed 895 likely voters
or people who had already voted and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.77 percentage points. The Silver Bulletin gives the pollster a B- rating.
South Carolina Senate race unexpectedly competitive
The seat has become a target for Democrats as President Donald Trump's approval has fallen. It is among several Senate seats with tighter-than-expected races in states Trump won by double digits, including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio and Texas
Sabato's Crystal Ball moved the South Carolina contest from "Safe Republican" to "Likely Republican" on Oct. 6, then to "Lean Republican" on Oct. 27.
Outside Republican groups have poured money into the state, where early voting is underway. They have spent $9.7 million since Oct. 1 to support Graham or attack Andrews, a pediatrician, according to a Reuters analysis of federal campaign filings.
Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate election in South Carolina since 1998, when Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, who held the seat for nearly 40 years, won his final term in office.
Rob Godfrey, a Republican strategist in South Carolina, told Reuters that he believed Graham would end up winning, though the race is "closer than some would expect in a state like South Carolina thanks to a variety of factors, including a tough national environment."
A loss for Graham in the deeply Republican state could signal a larger-than-expected Democratic wave and deliver a significant political blow for Trump. The president recruited Graham to serve out the remainder of her late brother's term after his death in July.
Trump endorsed Graham in the special primary to replace her brother and campaigned for her in the waning days of the race.
Contributing: Jay Stahl, USA TODAY; Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina poll shows Graham, Andrews neck and neck before Election Day
