Graham challenger picks up endorsement from Kamala Harris

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) on Monday endorsed Jaime Harrison, Sen. Lindsay Graham’s (R-S.C.) 2020 challenger.

Harrison “believes every South Carolinian deserves the opportunity to not just get by, but to thrive and succeed,” Harris said in a statement to The Associated Press. “I am confident he will continue to fight for South Carolinians in the Senate. I am proud to endorse Jaime Harrison for U.S. Senate.”

Harris is the second senator and former 2020 Democratic contender to back Harrison, a Democratic National Committee associate chairman and former South Carolina Democratic Party chairman. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a former Yale classmate, has also backed him.

Harrison also has the endorsement of House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), a political mentor with a reputation as a kingmaker in the state. Clyburn’s endorsement of former Vice President Joe Biden is largely credited with helping deliver Biden’s landslide victory in the Palmetto State’s Democratic presidential primary, revitalizing his campaign and beginning his path to front-runner status.

Harrison’s Senate bid against Graham, a vocal ally of President Trump in a state where the president remains popular, is considered a long shot, but he has seen record fundraising, pulling in $3.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 with $4.6 million cash on hand at the beginning of 2020.

Graham, meanwhile, posted $3.9 million in fundraising for the quarter, a new personal record, and had $10.3 million cash on hand, the AP said.