Earlier than the victory of Mr. Cunningham, who declined a request to be interviewed, the only real path to prominence as a Democrat in South Carol
Earlier than the victory of Mr. Cunningham, who declined a request to be interviewed, the only real path to prominence as a Democrat in South Carolina went solely by Consultant James E. Clyburn, the highly effective Home majority whip, who’s much more influential on an area degree.
Mr. Harrison, who was as soon as an aide for Mr. Clyburn, mentioned he acknowledged the lengthy odds of his job, however believes he’s well-positioned to win. He recognized two issues he wanted to do: Replicate Mr. Cunningham’s success with white, college-educated voters, and improve the share of the black citizens by bringing in new voters.
Mr. Harrison, the primary black chairman of the state Democratic Get together and a former Washington lobbyist, has toed a reasonable line in the case of coverage.
He has stayed away from points which have turn out to be litmus assessments for progressives, corresponding to “Medicare for all” and tuition-free school. As a substitute, his web site speaks about points like well being care and the scholar mortgage disaster in broad, obscure phrases, saying he helps “decreasing the price of well being care for individuals who already pay an excessive amount of” and making “school inexpensive for anybody keen to work arduous.”
Within the interview, Mr. Harrison hinted that he would wish third-party candidates to take votes from Mr. Graham within the normal election. Regardless of Mr. Graham’s greatest efforts, he speculated, the lingering notion of him as insufficiently conservative may result in fractures amongst Republicans.
“A few of these people simply can’t belief this man as a result of he’s been on either side of each situation,” Mr. Harrison mentioned. “There’s going to be options on the poll this fall. There’s a Structure Get together particular person. There’s a Libertarian Get together particular person. And I believe there’s sufficient mistrust, on the finish of the day, they’re not going to offer him their help.”
The race, as soon as seen as an afterthought as South Carolina centered on the Democratic presidential main, has slowly consumed the state. Mr. Harrison out-raised Mr. Graham within the first quarter of 2020, bringing in additional than $7 million. Mr. Graham raised simply over $5.5 million, although he had about $four million additional cash available from earlier fund-raising efforts.