Failed Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore announced on Thursday that he is running for the same Senate seat in 2020 after accusations of child molestation derailed his campaign in 2017.
Moore’s last run was so disastrously scandal-plagued that “Senate Republicans made clear they would rather have a Democrat with them in the Senate than Roy Moore, who was accused by more than half a dozen women of predatory behavior when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s,” The Washington Post reported.
“Why is there such a fear, such an anger, why such a hatred, such an opposition to somebody running?” Moore asked at his press conference. “Is it because I believe in God and marriage … and the right of a baby in the womb to have a life? Are these things embarrassing to you?”
“Everyone in Alabama knows that last election in 2017 was fraudulent,” Moore said — apparently referencing the reportedly shady disinformation tactics employed by Democrats during the election, and which were previously reported on by The New York Times.
Republican strategist Chris Barron slammed Moore over his comments, tweeting: “Stacy Abrams and Roy Moore. Opposite sides of the same brain dead coin.”
Moore reportedly said that he was “not going against President Trump” by entering the race.
Donald Trump Jr. quickly punched back, tweeting: “This is pure fake news. I can assure everyone that by running, Roy Moore is going against my father and he’s doing a disservice to all conservatives across the country in the process.”
Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) responded to Moore’s announcement by saying: “Give me a break. This place has enough creepy old men.”
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) said: “The people of Alabama are smarter than that.”
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) said: “I would oppose Roy Moore. … I will not be by myself, I hope. I think Alabama can do better than that.”
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump warned against Moore entering the race: “Republicans cannot allow themselves to again lose the Senate seat in the Great State of Alabama. This time it will be for Six Years, not just Two. I have NOTHING against Roy Moore, and unlike many other Republican leaders, wanted him to win. But he didn’t, and probably won’t. If Alabama does not elect a Republican to the Senate in 2020, many of the incredible gains that we have made during my Presidency may be lost, including our Pro-Life victories. Roy Moore cannot win, and the consequences will be devastating….Judges and Supreme Court Justices!”
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