‘We need his vote’: Trump gives Moore his support in Senate race
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday offered a strong endorsement of Roy Moore, the Republican Senate candidate in Alabama embroiled in accusations that he had inappropriate sexual relations with underage girls.
While many Republicans called for Moore to drop out of the race after several women came out with their stories, Trump has defended him, saying that Moore denied the accounts and deserved to be heard.
Moore, a former state Supreme Court judge, has been accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl and of sexually assaulting another teenager when he was a prosecutor in his 30s. He has denied any sexual misconduct and rejected all calls to quit the race.
In a statement, the White House said that Trump and Moore spoke on the phone and that the president endorsed Moore’s campaign.
“The president had a positive call with Judge Roy Moore during which they discussed the state of the Alabama Senate race and the president endorsed Judge Moore’s campaign,” the statement said.
Moore wrote about the endorsement on Twitter.
On Twitter earlier Monday, Trump described why Moore had to win: “We need his vote on stopping crime, illegal immigration, Border Wall, Military, Pro Life, V.A., Judges 2nd Amendment and more.”
Trump’s strong support came after a couple of polls showed Moore starting to re-establish a lead over Democrat Doug Jones. A Washington Post poll released Saturday, however, showed the race near a dead heat.
Polling by several organizations has shown the race close despite Alabama’s heavy Republican tilt.
Some advisers to the president were concerned that if Trump didn’t come out more forcefully in favor of Moore, the former Alabama state judge could lose.
Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, has said that the Senate Ethics Committee should investigate the allegations against Moore if he is elected.
The special election is Dec. 12.