ROY MOORE DEFEATS TRUMP-BACKED LUTHER STRANGE IN ALABAMA REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY

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ROY MOORE DEFEATS TRUMP-BACKED LUTHER STRANGE IN ALABAMA REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY


Socially conservative former Alabama chief justice, one of the most controversial US politicians, was removed from state Supreme Court post twice

ROY MOORE DEFEATS TRUMP-BACKED LUTHER STRANGE IN ALABAMA REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY

The former Alabama judge Roy Moore, one of the most controversial figures in Republican politics, is on course to become a US senator – in spite of opposition from Donald Trump.

With 95% of the vote in on Tuesday night, Moore, the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court was ahead of appointed incumbent Luther Strange by 55% to 45% in the Republican Senate runoff. 

Moore’s victory comes despite being outspent by a margin of 10-to-1 by Strange, who had been appointed in January to the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions after his confirmation as US attorney general.

Moore was previously twice removed as Alabama’s chief justice, first for for refusing to remove a monument to the Ten Commandments that he installed in the state courthouse and more recently for refusing to implement the US Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage. 

The result comes as a major blow to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who had strongly backed Strange. A Super Pac closely linked to McConnell spent over $9m on behalf of the incumbent, who was considered a loyal supporter of the Senate GOP leadership. 

However, Moore was able to turn McConnell’s opposition into an asset. In his election eve rally in a barn in Fairhope, Alabama, the loudest applause came when Moore declared: “Mitch McConnell needs to be replaced.” 

McConnell said in a statement after the result: “Senate Republicans will be as committed to keeping Alabama’s seat in Republican hands with Roy Moore as we were with Luther Strange.” He also noted that Moore “ran spirited campaign centered dissatisfaction with the progress made in Washington”.

Moore is considered an overwhelming favorite in the deep red state in December’s general election against Democrat Doug Jones. However, Democrats do sense some opportunity because of Moore’s history of controversy. In a statement, Jones took the first shot. “After years of embarrassing headlines about top public officials in this state, this race is about the people of Alabama and about choosing a candidate with character and integrity they can be proud of,” said Jones. “I will never embarrass the people of Alabama. I am running so the people of Alabama can be proud of their next senator.” 

Trump’s one criticism of Moore in his appearance in Alabama on Friday was that Moore had “a very good chance of not winning a general election”. The former judge pushed back on this to the Guardian on Tuesday night: “I think he was misinformed about my chances. The poll numbers show that I’m far ahead right now.”

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