MONDAY SPECIAL

MONDAY SPECIAL

Course, update you on air as soon as we learn more.

>> jon: down to the wire now election less than 24 hours away.

More than a million votes have already reportedly been cast across the palmetto state thus far.

Today the last day for in person absentee voting.

Right now we are going to be joined by the chairs of charleston county democratic and republican parties.

>> leah: first race we want to discuss this morning is the first congressional district.

State representative nancy pelosi looking to limit representative joe cunningham to just one person.

So we will start with you, colleen.

Good morning.

Since your candidate is currently the incumbent.

How are you doing?

>> great.

How huh this morning?

>> leah: good.

The advantage, is this the feeling for the campaign this morning.

>> it is just because he has done an amazing job.

He is so tremendously well reported by people of both parties.

He has clearly been really representing us across charleston county.

>> leah: when you say us, who do you mean?

>> everybody in charleston county.

Man, i have republicans everyday come up to me and tell me what a wonderful job he has done between the environment, between actually making sure we are getting back to work with this economy.

He really has support across party lines.

>> leah: you know, that was what i was going to ask you.

He has a lot of bipartisan support.

That's extremely important in such a divided year in a divided state always.

What is it about him that's getting so much support from both sides of major political parties?

>> his authenticity, his stance on offshore drilling that has been committed and reliable from the beginning.

Position on bringing back our economy after covid.

Really very thoughtful in how he approaches issues and certainly every survey of voter shows that and i feel confident we will see a strong support when we look at election results.

>> we know surveying and support right now a lot is verbal.

What's plan to turn action into actual votes by tomorrow?

>> we are absolutely looking at a lot of votes.

Maurice and i both worked very hard to get people out voting early.

Over 50% of charleston county voters have already voted in this election.

Early voting really has shown the convenience to voters and it has increased turnout.

So that is something that we are already seeing over 150,000 charlestonnians have voted.

>> jon: nancy mace attended the citadel and great campaign against the incumbent.

The strengths of your candidate this time around.

>> what a great introduction of nancy mace.

The mace team never left the ground.

Went straight from a primary with strong, strong ground game into the general election.

They stayed connected to the voters.

The engagement level was elevated and i'm pretty confident we will take the first congressional district.

If you look at recent polls, she has been leading by about two percentage point, the president is doing very well, trending very well in the first congressional district.

Republicans are really motivated and we too have bipartisan support for our candidate.

I'm very, very happy about that.

>> jon: it is going to be a interesting one.

Move on to the senate race.

More money poured into that race and more attention than most others in the country.

Incumbent lindsey graham has been in washington for 25 years.

Jaime harrison from orangeburg really coming into his own.

Guys, 46% to 46%, our latest polling.

Colleen, i will start with you.

How do you see this one swinging.

>> jamie is an exciting candidate.

He has been so involved for so long.

Lots of people really feel like they have a personal connection and exciting young voters and we want a senator represents us that isn't cow tied to the person in the presidency.

>> leah: he has gotten a lot of support.

>> jon: mr. washington really quick, unbiased voter, if senator graham is removed from office, he is removed, what does it mean for the lowcountry.

>> look, jaime harrison is nancy pelosi and lindsey graham is south carolina's guy.

No one is interested in removing the clout and power with the position right now.

Midst of pandemic.

State at deficit because of the pandemic.

Many local governments are running deficit as a result.

Lindsey graham will bring the necessary clout to help businesses recover state and local government recover as well.

So i see the vote is keeping lindsay.

It is going to be close.

Lots and lots of money has been raised.

At the end of the day i think lindsey graham pulls it out.

>> leah: senator graham has said a lot of offensive to black community which is supporting mr. harrison in large numbers.

I know you say a lot of south carolinians will not support him but huge ground to get them out to vote.

Apparently he has encouraged to go out and vote.

What's the comment on that on the support that mr. graham is losing a lot in the black community here in south carolina?

>> well, i really don't see that.

I think i understand the comment that you're referring to.

It was taken out of content, out of character.

He was referring to south carolina being a red state.

If you're african-american and conservative certainly you have a better chance of winning statewide election.

That's very, very true.

Just as i as an african-american republican cannot run in a district specifically drawn for african-american democrat, same election.

I don't think there was no racial overtures at all.

I think the comment was taken way, way out of character.

>> i look at the loophole that bill still sitting on senator graham's desk.

He has within the -- been the one blocking u.s. senate to put in the trust and loophole.

I think those actions really speak loudly to voters in south carolina.

>> leah: let's turn our attention to the race everyone has their eyes on.

President trump and former vice president joe biden already working hard toward taking over the oval office.

So mr. washington, we will start with you again.

Since your candidate is the incumbent first what's the strategy here in south carolina get voters to the polls, support the president.

>> absolutely.

The beauty of this race is the fact that we have a president and a candidate who made promises and kept his promises.

Strong economy, strong at least at least precohen a very, very strong job rate.

Lowest unemployment in the history of african-americans.

Support of hbcu.

Support of prison reform.

He is a guy who has stepped up, kept his promise and never waiver on protecting america and putting america first.

In the end i think that's going to carry in the victory.

>> jon: colleen, what is it going to take to turn south carolina purple or blue?

>> i think people will be surprised thursday.

It is going to be a much closer race in south carolina for presidency than we have seen in well, i think it is about 40 years.

The last time south carolina supported president was jimmy carter.

We will be coming pretty darn i believe we will be purple.

It won't be blue.

I believe that there's still a lot of difference in the upstate compared to the lowcountry.

Here in the lowcountry we understand what's really happening.

We want people to feel safe in a pandemic unlike how it has felt the last six months.

I think joe biden is offering the hope to folks.

>> jon: record number of votes in already.

Thank you so much for taking the time with us this morning.

We will, of course, be watching and counting the votes along with you and hope to