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New York Times/Siena poll shows South Carolina Senate race tied at 48% each

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 6 outlets across the spectrum.

10 articles in total, 4 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

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A New York Times/Siena College poll released Wednesday shows Republican Senator Darline Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews tied at 48 percent each among likely voters in South Carolina, less than a week before Election Day. Graham was appointed to the Senate in July after her brother, Lindsey Graham, died. CNN and The Guardian report that Donald Trump won the state by nearly 18 points in 2024. The Guardian reports that South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998, and that 51 percent of voters in the poll said Graham lacked the right experience to be an effective senator.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. A New York Times/Siena College poll released Wednesday shows Darline Graham and Annie Andrews tied at 48 percent among likely voters in South Carolina.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left2Left3Center2Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast, New York Magazine
    Left
    The New York Times, CNN, The Guardian
    Center
    The Hill, Newsweek
    Right
    Washington Examiner, Daily Mail

  2. Darline Graham was appointed to the Senate in July after her brother Lindsey Graham died.

    Reported byFar Left1Left2Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    New York Magazine
    Left
    CNN, The Guardian
    Right
    Washington Examiner

  3. Annie Andrews is the Democratic nominee in the race.

    Reported byFar Left1Left1Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    New York Magazine
    Left
    The Guardian
    Right
    Washington Examiner

  4. South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998.

    One side only: the leftReported byFar Left1Left1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    The Guardian

  5. Donald Trump won South Carolina by nearly 18 points in 2024.

    One side only: the leftReported byLeft2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    CNN, The Guardian

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The poll shows Democrats have a real chance to flip the South Carolina Senate seat.

    CNN and New York Magazine call it a real pickup opportunity but warn that one poll should not be oversold; The Hill and Newsweek report a deadlock without projecting a flip; Washington Examiner and Daily Mail describe a close race with the seat in play.

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports a New York Times/Siena poll showing Senator Darline Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews tied at 48 percent in South Carolina. Left outlets stress a possible Democratic pickup and Graham's inexperience, while center and right outlets focus on the close race and the vulnerability of the seat.

  • the left

    2 outlets · 3 opinion

    Left headlines present the poll as good news for Democrats and a chance to flip a Republican seat; Far Left outlets go further, mocking Graham as a nepo senator and calling the result unimaginable.

    New polls have more good news for Democrats’ Senate hopes
    CNNLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    2 outlets

    Center headlines report the poll neutrally as a deadlock, though Newsweek frames it as a troubling poll for Graham just before a Trump rally.

    South Carolina Senate race deadlocked: Survey
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    2 outlets

    Right headlines stress how close the race is and Graham's vulnerability, with the Daily Mail calling the dead heat stunning, a word the Far Left Daily Beast also uses.

    South Carolina polling has Andrews and Graham neck-and-neck in final sprint to Election Day
    Washington ExaminerRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left10

    stunningstruggling to replicaterisks throwing awayMAGA Nepo Senator

  • Center2

    potentially troublingTroubling Poll

  • Right2

    stunningdesperate

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    stunningMore neutral: new

    The adjective “stunning” asserts a surprise the poll itself does not establish.

    …are tied at 48 percent in South Carolina’s deep-red Senate race, according to a stunning new New York Times/Siena poll released Wednesday.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)Daily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    struggling to replicateMore neutral: is seeking to hold the seat her late brother held

    Describes her as failing before the vote and presents the race as her struggle, which the poll figures do not show.

    Senator Darline Graham, the South Carolina Republican, is struggling to replicate her late brother’s success.

    Used byThe New York Times (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    risks throwing awayMore neutral: is in a close race for

    The phrase presents the race outcome as a loss for Republicans before the vote.

    Lindsey Graham’s sister risks throwing away the late MAGA Senator’s Republican stronghold seat.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Partisan shorthand

    MAGA Nepo SenatorMore neutral: Republican Sen. Darline Graham

    The term “MAGA” is a partisan label that places the senator within a movement and adds a judgement to the headline.

    MAGA Nepo Senator Hit by Shock Poll Just Days Before Election

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Show 9 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded modifier

    Nepo SenatorMore neutral: Sen. Darline Graham

    The label “Nepo” attaches a nepotism judgement to Graham in the headline, before any evidence on her qualifications is given.

    MAGA Nepo Senator Hit by Shock Poll Just Days Before Election

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    Shock PollMore neutral: New poll

    The word “shock” adds drama to a routine poll result.

    MAGA Nepo Senator Hit by Shock Poll Just Days Before Election

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    UnimaginableMore neutral: Poll shows a tied Senate race in South Carolina

    Calls a poll result unimaginable before the race is decided, adding drama that the poll numbers alone do not carry.

    Poll Suggests the Unimaginable: A Democratic Senator in South Carolina

    Used byNew York Magazine (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    desperateMore neutral: working

    The word characterizes Republicans’ emotional state and motives rather than reporting their actions.

    Republicans are desperate to save the US Senate seat in South Carolina formerly held by the late Lindsey…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    MAGA loyalistMore neutral: Megyn Kelly

    The partisan label pre-judges the commentator before her reaction is reported.

    MAGA loyalist Megyn Kelly has entered a state of shocked disbelief over polling numbers for the…

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    PanicsMore neutral: Reacts to

    The verb asserts an intense emotional state for a named person in the outlet’s own voice, which goes beyond reporting what she said.

    Megyn Kelly Panics Over ‘Shock’ Poll in Deep Red State

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    ‘Shock’More neutral: Poll

    Scare quotes around the poll result suggest it is less real or less surprising than the figures show.

    Megyn Kelly Panics Over ‘Shock’ Poll in Deep Red State

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    potentially troublingMore neutral: a poll showing a tie

    Repeats a judgement that the poll is troubling instead of giving the tied figures alone.

    Senate in South Carolina, received a potentially troubling poll on Wednesday, just one day before President Donald Trump is scheduled to…

    Used byNewsweek (Center)

  • Sensational language

    Troubling PollMore neutral: Poll Shows Tie

    Calls the poll troubling for one candidate, a judgement the reported figures of a tie do not state.

    Darline Graham Hit with Troubling Poll One Day Before Trump Rally

    Used byNewsweek (Center)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

2 outlets · 3 opinion

Leads with

  • Democratic pickup chances
  • Graham's inexperience
  • Republican seat at risk
See the 5 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The GuardianLeft

    South Carolina tossup means state may elect Democrat to Senate for first time in 28 years

    Poll shows Annie Andrews, a Democrat, tied with the Republican incumbent, Darline Graham, sister to Lindsey Graham US politics live – latest updates A US Senate race in one of the most Republican states in the country is now a dead heat, according to a new poll showing Annie …

    Read at The Guardian (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    Megyn Kelly Loaded verb“Panics”The verb asserts an intense emotional state for a named person in the outlet’s own voice, which goes beyond reporting what she said.More neutral: Reacts toDisagree with this highlight? Over Sensational language“‘Shock’”Scare quotes around the poll result suggest it is less real or less surprising than the figures show.More neutral: PollDisagree with this highlight? Poll in Deep Red State

    Loaded modifier“MAGA loyalist”The partisan label pre-judges the commentator before her reaction is reported.More neutral: Megyn KellyDisagree with this highlight? Megyn Kelly has entered a state of shocked disbelief over polling numbers for the South Carolina Senate race. A New York Times /Siena poll found that the race between Republican incumbent Darline Graham , 62, and Democrat challenger Annie Andrews , 45, is “ …

    Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from The Daily Beast
  • New York MagazineFar LeftOpinion

    Poll Suggests the Sensational language“Unimaginable”Calls a poll result unimaginable before the race is decided, adding drama that the poll numbers alone do not carry.More neutral: Poll shows a tied Senate race in South CarolinaDisagree with this highlight?: A Democratic Senator in South Carolina

    During this last week of a high-stakes midterm-election campaign, polling data is flying around with ever-increasing velocity, and the big mystery is whether a Democratic wave can flip the United States Senate (control of the House is generally being conceded to Democrats). …

    Read at New York Magazine (opens in a new tab)
  • CNNLeftOpinion

    New polls have more good news for Democrats’ Senate hopes

    New surveys confirm just how much Democrats have expanded the Senate map in the 2026 midterm elections. The New York Times/Siena polls — the first high-quality surveys in some states — show Democrats with a bona fide pickup opportunity in South Carolina and possibly another one …

    Read at CNN (opens in a new tab)
  • The New York TimesLeftOpinion

    Heavily Republican South Carolina’s Senate Race Is a Tossup, Poll Finds

    Senator Darline Graham, the South Carolina Republican, is Loaded verb“struggling to replicate”Describes her as failing before the vote and presents the race as her struggle, which the poll figures do not show.More neutral: is seeking to hold the seat her late brother heldDisagree with this highlight? her late brother’s success. Republicans lead in the Florida Senate race and Democrats are up in Minnesota.

    Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)

From the center

2 outlets

Leads with

  • Poll result as a deadlock
  • Timing before Election Day
  • Trump rally
See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • NewsweekCenter

    Darline Graham Hit with Sensational language“Troubling Poll”Calls the poll troubling for one candidate, a judgement the reported figures of a tie do not state.More neutral: Poll Shows TieDisagree with this highlight? One Day Before Trump Rally

    The new poll shows Graham and Andrews tied in the race for U.S. Senate in South Carolina less than a week before midterms.

    Read at Newsweek (opens in a new tab)
  • The HillCenter

    South Carolina Senate race deadlocked: Survey

    Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) and Democratic Senate hopeful Annie Andrews are deadlocked in the Palmetto State race with less than a week before Election Day, according to a new survey. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)

From the right

2 outlets

Leads with

  • Graham's vulnerability
  • Close race in final sprint
  • Possible loss of a long-held Republican seat
See the 2 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • Daily MailRight

    Lindsey Graham's sister in Sensational language“stunning”The adjective adds drama to a poll result that the headline could state without it.More neutral: tiedDisagree with this highlight? dead heat for his seat that could flip blue for the first time in decades

    Republicans are Sensational language“desperate”The word characterizes Republicans’ emotional state and motives rather than reporting their actions.More neutral: workingDisagree with this highlight? to save the US Senate seat in South Carolina formerly held by the late Lindsey Graham.

    Read at Daily Mail (opens in a new tab)
  • Washington ExaminerRight

    South Carolina polling has Andrews and Graham neck-and-neck in final sprint to Election Day

    Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) is locked in a close contest with Democrat nominee Annie Andrews in South Carolina’s Senate race, according to a new poll that points to vulnerabilities for Graham as the midterm elections approach. Graham, the sister of the late Sen. …

    Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    8 hr later

    Its first report, Oct 28, 4:47 PM EDT

  • Center

    42 min later

    Its first report, Oct 28, 9:28 AM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    Washington Examiner, Oct 28, 8:45 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. Washington ExaminerRightOct 28, 8:45 AM EDT
  2. The HillCenterOct 28, 9:28 AM EDT
  3. Daily MailRightOct 28, 1:19 PM EDT
  4. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 28, 4:47 PM EDT
  5. NewsweekCenterOct 28, 8:13 PM EDT
  6. The GuardianLeftOct 29, 10:42 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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