Upset brewing in heated Alabama Republican Senate primary as polls conflict

www.theBlaze.Com ^ | Aug 14, 2017 | Aaron Colen

[Yosemitest]

Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore (above) has gained ground on incumbent Luther Strange in the Alabama Republican Senate primary.
The primary election is Tuesday.

Despite an endorsement from President Donald Trump and his position as the incumbent, Sen. Luther Strange has been unable to hold off surging challenger Roy Moore heading into Tuesday’s Alabama Republican Senate primary election.

Strange and Moore are among the eight candidates competing for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat that was vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Strange was appointed to the seat in February by former Gov. Robert Bentley, who resigned in April in the midst of sexual and financial scandals.

In fact, Strange may even be trailing Moore, depending on which poll is considered.
A poll recently released by the Trafalgar Group shows Moore leading Strange 37.72 percent to 24.42 percent.
However, an Emerson College Polling poll shows the two candidates in a virtual dead heat, with Strange leading 32 percent to 29 percent, meaning this race is too close to call.

Neither Strange, 64, nor Moore, 70, appears to be in a position to secure the 50 percent of votes needed to win the Republican nomination outright.
More likely, the primary will be decided in a run-off election Sept. 26.

Rep. Mo Brooks, 63, is third in both polls (15 percent in the ECP, 17.46 percent in the Trafalgar Group) and is vying for a spot in the presumed run-off.
Brooks is known as a staunch fiscal conservative who notably opposed the Republican plan to replace Obamacare because it didn’t go far enough in dismantling the law, according to CNBC.
He eventually supported an amended bill.

Trump endorsed Strange, who was once considered the clear favorite, most recently in an Aug. 14 tweet, saying
“Luther Strange of the Great State of Alabama has my endorsement.
He is strong on Border & Wall, the military, tax cuts & law enforcement.”

Moore, a former state Supreme Court justice, has faced an uphill battle against the more well-funded Strange, who boasts financial support from GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his allies as well as an endorsement by the NRA.

Moore has leaned into that apparent disadvantage by running as an anti-establishment candidate, portraying McConnell as an example of what’s wrong in Washington, which appears to have been an effective strategy in a state where Trump is still popular.

Trump has been publicly critical of McConnell multiple times in recent months, although Trump and McConnell agree in their endorsement of Strange.


“I resent people from Washington, raising money in Washington, and sending negative ads to Alabama and trying to control the vote of the people,” Moore said, according to Politico.
“If the Washington crowd wants somebody, the people of Alabama generally don’t.”

Moore has campaigned on the platform of a strong military, including the use of military force to protect the Mexican border, defunding Planned Parenthood, and opposition to same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Moore’s endorsements include evangelical leader James Dobson, television star and conservative spokesperson Chuck Norris, Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson and former Gov.Fob James and his son, Tim James.

According to AL.com, this race is being viewed by some as a referendum on McConnell’s influence and the reach of Washington.
If Strange loses, it would indicate that the grassroots movement in Alabama is stronger than the Washington establishment.

On the Democratic side of the election, U.S. Attorney Doug Jones is the leading primary candidate, polling at 40 percent in the Emerson College Polling poll.
Jones was recently endorsed by former Vice President Joe Biden.
The next closest Democrat is Robert Kennedy Jr. at 23 percent.
At least 25 percent of polled voters were undecided.
No Democrat has held a Senate seat in Alabama since Howell Heflin in 1997.

[Yosemitest]

I hope Rep. Mo Brooks wins the runoff.
He's the MOST CONSERVATIVE !

[yarddog]

With 32% of the vote in, Moore has slightly increased his lead.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

It's not over until the Deep State hits "Enter".

[Bodleian_Girl]

I think Brooks just jumped in to try and pull votes away from Moore, who is extremely popular in Alabama. And extremely conservative.

What they don’t report is that as Alabama attorney general, Big Luther called of the investigation into now-criminally guilty Governor Robert Bentley.

(Mistress on the payroll of dark money while she ran the government. Sex conversations included and taped by wife. He’s 70’s, she’s 40’s and married to a light in the loafers weatherman that Bentley also put on the state payroll.)

[JLAGRAYFOX]

The race will finish with Moore coming in first, Strange second and Brooks third. All three candidates are showing much more strength in vote totals thenm all the polls called out. Polls all off base.

Total Republican/Democrat vote totals at present is Republicans, 70%, Democrats 30%!!! This is at the 30% voting so far. Democrat Primary ticket getting slaughtered across the board.

POTUS, Trump has only one thing going for him...the American people by the millions!!! Go POTUS,Donald J. Trump...MAGA!!!

[yarddog]

With 42% in, Moore’s lead slips just a tiny bit. Still has a comfortable lead.

[ivory49]

Brooks is the swamp, I just viewed a hand full of videos of him trashing Trump during 2016.

[Nateman]

I predict Moore wins the run off Sept. 26 dispite a bunch of dirty tricks by Mitch.

[Will88]

I think most people in Alabama expect a runoff between Moore and Strange. Brooks is just not as well know statewide.

[Yosemitest]

False ACCUSATIONS designed to keep a REAL CONSERVATIVE OUT of the Senate !

[CWW]

This is not a surprise if you know anything about Alabama politics.

[Baynative]

Brooks got crushed. It’s Moore and McConnell’s chosen one in a run off.

[tennmountainman]

You and other Brooks voters can fix it by supporting Moore.
Moore never attacked Brooks.

[Yosemitest]

I vote in Mississippi, and of the Republicans choices I have, the only one in the last few years that was worth the fight, was Chris McDaniel.
The dumb voters here believed the lies the ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS told.
Between that and the crossover DemocRATS, a good CONSERVATIVE did not stand a chance !!
I'll NEVER vote for another ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICAN !
NEVER !

[tennmountainman]

Conservative votes(Moore and Brooks combined) crushed The Strange votes tonight.

[Yosemitest]

We need more publicity for the General Election; more ads, more face-to-face meetings, and more public speeches.
We need NATIONAL COVERAGE for those out of Alabama who vote absentee ballot.

[FrdmLvr]

That’s the way I looked at it.