Brent Nelsen talks midterm turnout, vote-splitting with WIS 10

In an interview on Columbia NBC affiliate WIS 10, Furman University’s Brent Nelsen pointed out the significance of President Donald Trump’s presence in the Upstate. Nelsen, the Jane Fishburne Hipp Professor of Politics and International Affairs, said “Donald Trump is coming for the second time and that means Republicans are somewhat worried. The president is coming to Ralph Norman territory to rally people around Darline Graham and to say that if you vote for Ralph Norman you are actually voting for Annie Andrews.”

Norman, who was narrowly defeated in a Senate seat runoff with Darline Graham, is not officially on the ballot. But disgruntled Republicans lodged a grassroots write-in campaign on his behalf. In what’s described as one of the most closely watched races in the country, Nelsen said one question remains – will the MAGA base turn out when Trump is not on the ballot? “Are they enthusiastic enough to come out on Election Day?”

The story also ran on Savannah station WTOC 11.