Write-ins could play a key role

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Sculptor Lee Busby and University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban could play a key role in determining whether Republican Roy Moore or Democrat Doug Jones becomes Alabama’s next U.S. senator.

A race that was initially expected to be a GOP walkover feels surprisingly close following allegations against Moore of sexual misconduct, and state election officials already are laying the groundwork for a largerthan-normal number of write-in votes. That’s where Busby and Saban come in.

While Saban isn’t running for anything other than a national championship, ’Bama coaches typically wind up with writein votes in state elections. Busby, meanwhile, is a retired Marine colonel from Tuscaloosa who’s launched a write-in candidacy in response to a campaign upended by allegations that Moore was involved in sexual misconduct decades ago.

Busby, describing himself as a typical Alabama Republican who supports President Donald Trump, said Thursday he’s running partly out of frustration.

“I did it because I could not bring myself to pick either of the two binary choices we have as Alabama voters,” he said. “I’m not attracted to the Moore campaign … and I cannot bring myself to cast a vote for the Democratic Party to represent Alabama in the United States Senate.”

Busby isn’t alone, and several other people also are touting themselves as write-in alternatives, including Libertarian Ron Bishop.