Harrison launches campaign

Jaime Harrison launches campaign against Lindsey Graham in South Carolina

By JAMES ARKIN

Democrat Jaime Harrison launched his campaign for Senate in South Carolina Wednesday by targeting GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham for his shift to becoming a major supporter of President Donald Trump.

Harrison, the former chairman of the state party, faces a significant uphill battle in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat statewide since 2006. In a campaign launch video, Harrison attacked Graham by replaying old clips of him calling Trump "crazy" and a "kook" during the 2016 campaign, followed by clips of Graham praising Trump, including saying the president "deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, and then some."

"Here's a guy that will say anything to stay in office," Harrison said. "Lindsey Graham can't lead us in any direction because he traded his moral compass for petty political gain. Lindsey Graham, he's forgotten about the people he represents: you."

Harrison has been expected to challenge Graham since launching an exploratory campaign for the seat in February. He met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that month, and Harrison told POLITICO at the time that Schumer told him, "You're my guy." As of March 31, Harrison had already banked $200,000 for the race, though it's only a small fraction of the $4.6 million Graham had on hand at the end of March.

Harrison is a member of the Democratic National Committee and ran for chair of the Democratic National Committee in 2017 before dropping out and endorsing the eventual winner, Tom Perez.

In the launch video, Harrison also told his own story about being raised by his grandparents, getting a scholarship to Yale and attending law school at Georgetown, before returning home to South Carolina.

"I remember a time when senators helped the people they represent. I want to bring the spirit of helping back," Harrison said.

Graham will be difficult to unseat. The state hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate in more than two decades. Graham beat back multiple primary challengers in 2014 before cruising to reelection by double digits in the general election. South Carolina voted for Trump by 14 percentage points.

Since his criticism of Trump in 2016 — both as a rival for the presidential nomination and after — Graham has become a close ally, backing the president on his emergency declaration at the U.S.-Mexico border and saying the Mueller report showed no obstruction and is "over."