GOP South Carolina Senate Worries, Guilfoyle Investigation, Hurricane Isaias Threat: AM Update 10/9

[upbeat music] Republicans now pouring millions of dollars into a Senate race in South Carolina as new polling raises questions about whether a reliably red state could be more competitive than anyone expected.

Axios reporting the Senate Leadership Fund, the leading super PAC supporting Republican Senate candidates, plans to spend $5 million helping Senator Darleen Graham hold onto her seat.

One Republican familiar with the plans describing the investment as an insurance policy as the GOP works to protect a seat Democrats have not won in decades.

Graham is the younger sister of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster in July to serve out the remainder of her brother's term following his death.

The president backing her appointment and later helping her secure the Republican nomination, defeating Congressman Ralph Norman in a contentious primary.

Now Graham faces Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and mother of three who has managed to make this a surprisingly close race.

According to RealClearPolling, Graham leading Andrews by just 2.4 points, 45.7% to 43.3%.

Two recent polls from Trafalgar and Insider Advantage showing an even tighter contest, Graham ahead by just a single point in each.

Those numbers particularly striking in a state President Trump carried by nearly 18 points in 2024 and where Democrats have not won a statewide election since 2006.

Axios reporting the close polling has alarmed some Republicans, particularly as Andrews outraises and outspends Graham.

The $5 million investment largely going toward television advertising aimed at reminding voters of Andrews' Democrat Party affiliation.

President Trump also jumping into the contest this week, throwing his full support behind Graham while unloading on her Democrat opponent in a lengthy Truth Social post.

The president referring to Andrews as, quote, "Annie Tranny Andrews" and accusing her of supporting transgender policies, open borders, higher taxes, restrictions on gun ownership, and defunding the police.

Graham asked about the president's remarks by WACH, the local Fox affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina, on Tuesday, distancing herself from his choice of words while defending his criticism of Andrews' record on transgender issues.

You know, that's not how I would have said it, but I think it's more about the issue here.

She supports hormone treatment to help minors transition.

Andrews now firing back at a new campaign ad released yesterday.

Politics can get pretty ugly, and when it does, you deserve to hear the truth.

My career as a pediatrician has always been about taking care of kids, and I've got three of my own.

So I want you to hear me loud and clear.

I don't support biological men playing women's sports, and I don't support and haven't ever performed gender surgery for minors.

I'm Dr. Annie Andrews, and I approve this message because Darleen Graham lying about me won't do a thing to help you.

Graham taking to X yesterday, accusing Andrews of trying to mislead voters about her record, pointing to Andrews' opposition to South Carolina's Help Not Harm Act, which banned gender transition surgeries and puberty blockers for minors Graham also highlighting Andrews' previous criticism of legislation restricting biological males from competing in girls' sports, which Andrews had described as, quote, "shameful".