# U.S. Senate races 2020 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 30, 2020, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876 "2020-04-30T05:17:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/463 "2020-10-09T22:44:32Z")
[S.C. Senate Debate Cancelled After Lindsey Graham Refuses Covid-19 Test](https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielcassady/2020/10/09/sc-senate-debate-cancelled-after-lindsey-graham-refuses-covid-19-test/#74b757e24fec) If he tests positive, that might throw off the ACB schedule. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/464 "2020-10-10T00:04:55Z")
Watching the Colorado Senate debate right now. It’s weird watching a debate where the candidates are polite and take turns and such. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/465 "2020-10-10T01:01:14Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > what’s most concerning is that Cunningham’s strategy seems to be to bury his head in the fucking sand. He has an issue that is not related to the race. He is a Lieutentant Colonel in the Army Reserve. If any of his trysts were on days when he was on duty he has a big potential problem. Adultery is a violation of the UCMJ. It is a violation that is usually not prosecuted in a court martial. Part of that is that the sex is only part of the elements of the offense. It has to be prejudicial to good order and discipline or bring discredit to the service. There is a reasonable argument that having your affair be national news in a campaign where you are playing up your military service brings discredit. The sex part is also usually pretty hard to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Right now we have one side of the story. That likely saves him from a court. If he opens his mouth he could talk his way into that court martial. He was commissioned in 2002 and is close to qualifying for retirement pay. That court martial is a real threat to being able to retire versus merely being kicked out. Cunningham has a lot of money and lifetime benefits at risk. Exercising his right to remain silent might be in his personal, if not his campaign’s, best interest. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/466 "2020-10-10T11:48:26Z")
Just when I start to think that Texas Democrats are getting past their reputation as the gang that couldn’t shoot straight, I see [articles like this](https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/09/royce-west-mj-hegar-texas-senate/). Senate candidate MJ Hegar apparently hasn’t reached out to her primary opponent to ask for his endorsement, who has accused her of having a problem with Black people. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/467 "2020-10-10T13:16:06Z")
The latest from the Palmetto State: > **[South Carolina US Senate debate changes format after Lindsey Graham refuses...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/09/politics/south-carolina-debate-lindsey-graham-jamie-harrison/index.html)** > > The South Carolina Senate debate scheduled for Friday night between Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and his Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison has changed formats after Graham rejected Harrison's request to take another Covid test. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/468 "2020-10-10T16:44:45Z")
Some discussion of Senate races here: > **[Biden enters final weeks in commanding position as Trump wastes precious days...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/10/politics/2020-election-biden-trump/index.html)** > > Joe Biden is in a commanding position as the presidential race enters its final stretch, leading President Donald Trump in polling and fundraising and on offense to expand his pathways to victory while Trump struggles to defend must-win states. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/469 "2020-10-10T17:26:37Z")
[The sex scandal that could keep the Senate in McConnell’s hands](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/09/cunningham-scandal-rocks-battle-for-senate-428091) I, and others, have repeatedly said that the NC senate race was critical to the control of the chamber in this thread. Some quotes from the above article confirm that. > But Josh Holmes, a close confidant to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said “without question the clearest pathway" for Democrats to win the Senate was through North Carolina. "And it looks like Cal Cunningham sexted it away.” > But with Cunningham staggering, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said there’s now “reason for us to be at least hopeful” about keeping the chamber. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/470 "2020-10-11T20:04:00Z")
Tillis is going all in with ads on the sexting info. Latest one is about how the Army is looking into Cunningham. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/471 "2020-10-11T20:30:11Z")
I am seeing ads for Jaime Harrison asking to fund his campaign against Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. I am in Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/472 "2020-10-11T21:36:44Z")
Looks like Harrison may not be able to spend the money he has now. I guess if he doesn’t he might be able to roll it over to next race win or lose. Or he could give the money to the party. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/473 "2020-10-11T23:25:53Z")
I agree that Harrison is likely pushing the upper bounds of what can be usefully spent with three weeks to go in South Carolina. Plenty of underfunded races still out there, Democrats! ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/474 "2020-10-11T23:41:03Z")
Part of me is wondering if Graham in SC and McConnell in KY are secretly welcoming all the outside dollars into their races knowing that D dollars would be more effective elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/475 "2020-10-11T23:42:42Z")
Every campaign manager I’ve seen comment on this has said it’s not true that there could ever be too much money. There’s never enough money for them to do everything they want to do. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/476 "2020-10-11T23:48:49Z")
For that money he might be able to buy TV stations in small markets 🙂 SC has no large market except Charlotte TV which covers part of northern SC ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/477 "2020-10-12T00:09:46Z")
Yes, campaign managers would say that. 😀 And it’s true that you could always squeeze in a few more ads or rewalk some blocks. But at some point you hit severely diminishing returns and risk turning people off through over saturation. And sometimes too much money can be a curse for a campaign — ask Mike Bloomberg. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/478 "2020-10-12T00:15:41Z")
If they really have too much money, they could find another Democratic candidate who’s short and donate it to them. I believe that’s allowed under campaign law. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/479 "2020-10-12T00:31:39Z")
Under FEC rules, a candidate may donate no more that $2,000 from campaign funds to another candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/480 "2020-10-12T00:50:05Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > This is the guy I am talking about. Do you think he or his wife would appreciate you name-dropping them in this context? Googling him and various search terms related to marriage, I see ZERO evidence that this factoid is public knowledge. Not to call you out too much, but…if it was me, I wouldn’t really want my acquaintances dishing my marriage terms online. (Of course, I’d also have billions of dollars, so that would cushion the blow a little.) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/481 "2020-10-12T01:31:33Z")
Lots of things are true that Google can’t find. The media does not normally write about private lives of CEOs of private companies. He can’t be fired since he’s the CEO. I worked at SAS for 2 years and everybody there knew and many joked about his affairs. His wife did talk of divorce so he built a really top notch 5 star hotel for her to “run” . They have a manager but they pretend she runs it. I stayed there and it’s super high end. All marble, silk, fancy woods, etc. Nothing plastic or cheap anywhere. I’m quite sure he does not mind me telling the truth since everybody else around here knows it. Here is the hotel . [https://www.theumstead.com/](https://www.theumstead.com/) Most music people stay there when they are in town. I know Weezer stayed there for example. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876/482 "2020-10-12T03:37:06Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Every campaign manager I’ve seen comment on this has said it’s not true that there could ever be too much money. There’s never enough money for them to do everything they want to do. Bill Clinton’s two ironclad Rules of Politics, as he said in an interview in 1992, are (1) you can never have too much money and (2) just when you start to have fun, it’s time to go do something else. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-senate-races-2020/852876.md?page=25)