Trump blasts Democrat opposing Moore in Ala.
He tweets ‘ Jones would be a disaster’ in Senate
President Trump on Sunday doubled down on his insistence that a Democrat shouldn’t win Alabama’s Senate seat, once again appearing to back controversial Republican Roy Moore.
“The last thing we need in Alabama and the U. S. Senate is a Schumer/ Pelosi puppet who is WEAK on Crime, WEAK on the Border, Bad for our Military and our great Vets, Bad for our 2nd Amendment, AND WANTS TO RAISES TAXES TO THE SKY,” Trump tweeted. Doug “Jones would be a disaster!”
Trump, who is in Mar- aLago for the weekend, hasn’t outright endorsed Moore, the Alabama Republican who has been accused of sexually assaulting and harassing teenage girls while he was in his 30s.
As several Republican senators continue to call for Moore to step aside, Trump’s tweets highlight the challenge facing the chamber if the seat goes to a Democrat. The GOP controlled Senate, with just 52 Republicans, has struggled to pass health care and tax overhauls, and other parts of its legislative agenda.
In another tweet, the president noted his endorsement of Sen. Luther Strange in the Republican primary.
Trump’s comments may become a refrain in the final weeks of the race to fill the Senate seat once occupied by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Before he left Washington for Thanksgiving weekend, the president also said he didn’t want another Democrat in the Senate and stressed that Moore has denied the sexual misconduct allegations.
“Roy Moore denies it,” he said last week. “That’s all I can say.”
Trump, who also has been accused of sexual misconduct, did not say whether he believed Moore.
In previous statements, the White House has said that the president expected Moore to step aside of the allegations were true. The special election takes place Dec. 12.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel said Sunday that voters would have to serve as “judge and jury” for Moore, The Hill reported.
“Roy Moore cannot be replaced on the ballot,” she said during a radio interview. “He is the candidate. The Alabama ( Republican) Party has stood by that. Now the Alabama voters are going to have to be the judge and jury on this.”
Meanwhile, Republican senators on Sunday continued their calls for Moore to step aside.
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said on Fox News Sunday that the president should ask Moore to end his campaign.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said on CNN that a Moore win would mean the GOP inherited the candidate’s baggage. “It becomes a story every day about whether or not you believe thew omen or Roy Moore,” he said.
“What I would tell President Trump: If you think winning with Roy Moore is going to be easy for the Republican Party, you’re mistaken.”