Will Lindsey Graham Get Re-Elected? South Carolina Senator Raises Record-Setting $3.29 Million In Q3

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina raised $3.29 million in the third quarter of 2019, the largest fundraising haul ever in a single quarter for a politician in the state. Graham, a Republican who has become a loyal backer of President Donald Trump, is vying for a fourth term.

Graham's re-election campaign also says that he has approximately $8.4 million cash on hand.

Graham's Democratic challenger, Jaime Harrison, raised $2.1 million in the third quarter. Harrison's campaign said it was the largest quarterly total by a Democratic Senate challenger in the state's history.

Harrison is considered a long shot, as a Democrat has not won a statewide South Carolina race in 13 years. He has criticized Graham for his "comical" hypocrisy and ties to Trump, as Graham has previously called President Trump a "kook" and a "xenophobic, race-baiting, religious bigot."

One of Graham's most notable moments in the Trump era was his defense of then-Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh in September 2018. Kavanaugh, who was confirmed mostly on party lines, had been accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford in 1982. After Ford's testimony, Graham gave a spirited defense of Kavanaugh.

"What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold this seat open and hope you win in 2020," Graham had accused his Democratic colleagues in an angry rant. He also criticized Democrats for wanting to launch an FBI investigation into the matter. Republicans and the White House had praised his performance.

Graham has at times been criticized by Republicans for not being conservative enough. However, many experts believe his voting record on Trump policies, as well as his strong support of Kavanaugh, should mean he maintains a strong turnout from South Carolina's heavy conservative base.

No Democratic challenger has garnered 45% of the vote against Graham in three Senate bids.