‘Republicans cannot afford to lose Alabama Senate seat’
PENSACOLA, United States: Donald Trump threw his full weight behind Roy Moore, the Alabama Republican running for the US Senate with the president’s support despite being accused of molesting teenaged girls.
“Get out and vote for Roy Moore. Do it, do it,” the US leader said to applause at a campaign- style rally in Pensacola, Florida, just across from the Alabama state line.
“This country, the future of this country, cannot afford to lose a seat in the very, very close United States Senate. We can’t afford it, folks,” Trump said, reaffirming his backing for Moore in next week’s closely-watched election.
He said Moore was needed in the Senate to protect red meat issues for Republicans, such as gun rights, restricting immigration and boosting funding for the military.
Trump earlier this week officially endorsed the ultraconservative Christian in the Dec 12 vote – a change of tack after he initially characterised the allegations against Moore as ‘very troubling.’
Moore, a 70-year- old former state judge, stands accused of sexually assaulting during his thirties several women who were teenagers at the time, including one who was 14.
Trump has said a victory for his Democratic rival Doug Jones would be a ‘disaster.’
“We can’t afford to have a liberal Democrat who is completely controlled by Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer,” Trump said of Jones, repeating his earlier argument that he would be a ‘ puppet’ of the top Democratic lawmakers. — AFP