Moore, Strange trade words over canceled debate
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Sen. Luther Strange and challenger Roy Moore are in a bitter war of words over a canceled debate.
The two Republicans running for Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ former U.S. Senate seat traded accusations after Moore withdrew from a debate hosted by a conservative think tank, the Alabama Policy Institute.
“What is Roy Moore afraid of? What is Roy Moore hiding? Voters should ask themselves, if Roy Moore refuses to answer questions from voters, will he listen to their concerns in elected office?” Strange campaign spokesman Cameron Foster said in a statement. Moore responded that he withdrew because API’s president also serves as treasurer of a group backing Strange. Moore challenged Strange to meet him in a “Lincoln-Douglas style” debate to present issues without a moderator or questions from the news media.
“I propose a public debate, mano a mano, no tricks, no moderators, no questions from the press,” Moore said in a statement. “Just Luther Strange and me on the stage presenting our issues and the opponents’ responses thereto.”
Strange’s camp first called Moore’s demand of no press questions “embarrassing” but later said they would agree to Moore’s “ridiculous” demands. The Strange campaign also urged Moore to also attend a debate hosted by Raycom news media on Sept. 22.
“The Strange for Senate Campaign is extremely disappointed in how Roy Moore has handled the basic request to debate the issues for Alabama voters. That said, we are committed to the voters and will accommodate Mr. Moore’s ridiculous demands if that is the only way to get him to come out of hiding,” Foster said.
There was not an immediate response from the Moore campaign.
The two camps traded barbs on other issues. Moore criticized Strange’s association with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The Strange campaign said Moore needed to answer questions about how a charity he founded to do religious-themed litigation used its money.
Alabama Policy Institute did not respond to Moore other than to say it regretted the scheduled debate could not go forward.
The two Republicans are competing in the Sept. 26 GOP runoff. The winner will face Democrat Doug Jones in December.