Alabama wants no Moore of it
IN A stunning victory aided by scandal, Democrat Doug Jones won Alabama’s special Senate election yesterday, beating back history, an embattled Republican opponent and President Donald Trump, who urgently endorsed GOP rebel Roy Moore despite sexual misconduct allegations.
It was the first Democratic Senate victory in a quartercentury in Alabama, and proved anew that party loyalty is anything but sure in the age of Trump.
It was a major embarrassment for the President and a fresh wound for the nation’s already divided Republican Party. The victory by Mr Jones narrows the GOP advantage in the Senate to 51-49.
That imperils already-uncertain Republican tax, budget and health proposals and injects tremendous energy into the Democratic Party’s early push to reclaim House and Senate majorities in 2018.
Still, many Washington Republicans viewed the defeat of Mr Moore as perhaps the best outcome for the party nationally despite the shortterm sting.
The fiery Christian conservative’s positions have alienated women, racial minorities, gays and Muslims – in addition to the multiple allegations that he was guilty of sexual misconduct with teens, one only 14, when he was in his 30s.
A number of Republicans declined to support him but Mr Trump lent his name and the national GOP’s resources to Mr Moore’s campaign in recent days.
Had Mr Moore won, the GOP would have been saddled with a colleague accused of sordid conduct as Republicans nationwide struggle with Mr Trump’s historically low popularity. Senate leaders had promised that Mr Moore would have faced an immediate ethics investigation.