Muchmoreisat stake in Alabama election than just a seat in Senate
MORE than three million voters in Alabama got to choose who they would send to the US Senate – but the election has repercussions far beyond the southern state.
The special election, called to replace Jeff Sessions after he became the US attorney general, has been dominated by controversy.
Roy Moore, the Republican’s candidate, has refused to step aside despite repeated claims of sexual encounters with teenagers when he was in his 30s.
Nine women have gone on the record, one aged 14 at the time of the allegation, with the claims ranging from assault to repeated advances.
Mr Moore has denied them all and in turn claimed a “witch hunt” is being orchestrated by a hostile media and political opponents.
The scandal has given Doug Jones, the Democratic candidate, his party’s first chance of electing a senator in the state for 25 years. The race has also become a microcosm for debates playing out across the country, from fake news to voter disillusionment.
Here are five reasons why the result matters to America.
1. The numbers
Donald Trump’s grip on the Senate is paper-thin. The Republicans have 52 seats, the Democrats and independents 48. That means it takes just three Republican rebels to defeat any of the president’s legislation.
On tax cuts, there was just one rebel, handing Mr Trump his biggest legislative win so far. On repealing Obamacare, three voted against – bringing defeat and humiliation.
If the Republicans were to lose one of their two Alabama seats, lawmaking would get that bit tougher for Mr Trump.
2. Republican splits
Roy Moore was the candidate the Republican establishment never wanted. They spent millions trying to defeat his primary challenge against incumbent Luther Strange, but failed.
When the allegations against Mr Moore surfaced a month ago, leading senators called for him to quit and suggested Mr Strange could take his place. But the battle is just part of a bigger civil war that is raging in the Republican Party.
On one side is Steve Bannon – Mr Trump’s former adviser – Breitbart News and the anti-establishment voters who want to see through what they started last year.
On the other is Mitch McConnell, Republican leader in the Senate, and the party’s more mainstream congressmen unconvinced by Mr Trump.
Mr Bannon has pledged to unseat Republicans who stand against the president. A win for Mr Moore would be considered a victory for “the deplorables”.
3. Fake news
Mr Moore has responded to the accusations against him with a blanket denial and publicly attacked ‘The Washington Post’, which first reported the claims.
The strategy, of course, is familiar. Barely a day goes by with Mr Trump thrashing the “fake news” media.
Critics say the endless attacks are not simply an attempt to call out media bias but delegitimise those making revelations about his administration.
The Roy Moore election provides an early test for whether Republican voters buy the fake news argument. A win would be seen as vindication for the White House strategy.
4. Donald Trump
The US president was initially slow to jump on the Moore bandwagon. He endorsed Mr Strange in the primaries after arm-twisting from Republicans.
When Mr Moore sprung a surprise victory, Mr Trump was said to be infuriated he had ignored his instincts and gone with the establishment choice.
The president was wary of backing for Mr Moore when the scandal first broke, saying if the allegations were true he should go. Since then, Mr Trump’s support has grown with every week. He has questioned the validity of the claims, tweeted attacks on Mr Jones and ordered Republican HQ funding to restart. If Moore loses, the US president will take a hit too.
5. Decency in public office
US politicians have been under growing scrutiny about how they treat women after the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Al Franken, the Democratic senator talked of as a presidential hopeful, has gone following claims of assault. So too has John Conyers, the long-serving Democrat congressman. Both denied wrongdoing.
But the accusations against Mr Moore are on another level. Some of those involved were under the age of consent when the alleged incidents took place.
For commentators and critics – including some Republican senators – the race has become a test of American morality.
If Mr Moore wins, expect cries of US politics hitting a new low – and an immediate Senate ethics committee investigation. (© Daily Telegraph, London)