I don't think the problem was motivation, I think the problem was demotivation by the national Republican party and by Republican party office holders who urged Republicans to stay home or "write in" someone else.
The bastards should have kept their F***ing mouths shut in the absence of proof. Accusations are not convictions, or at least they didn't used to be in the US of A.
It is a very ugly and very dangerous trend to accept accusations as proven without adjudication. People on our side should not have participated in what was actually a witch hunt.
The people of Alabama knew Roger Moore well.
How many times did he run for state-wide office? Something like 4 times, maybe more. It’s clear Rats were motivated for Jones. But GOP’ers were “ho-hum” for Moore, some were likely influenced by the accusations to stay home most were simply not excited enough to get off their duffs to stop a anti-2ns Amendment, abortion loving Hillary/Zero-bot!
Which I think is the real story and real problem!
I think you are blaming the wrong folks. I don’t think Alabama voters care a whole lot about what the GOP Establishment thinks or says. That much was apparent by the fact that they nominated him in the first place, despite the Establishment opposition and even Trump’s.
Incidentally I agree that you should not accept allegations without support. But that’s for the voters to decide on Election Day. The voters have to determine what allegations are true and whether they are relevant. Some candidates are more susceptible to this kind of smear campaign than others. It’s the responsibility of the primary voters to pick a candidate who can beat it.