Roy Moore continued to defend himself and wanted the media off his back. He had the support of the Alabama GOP and some evangelicals.
Republicans also hoped that President Trump would help guide Moore to quit the race. This could be a tall task since Moore was insistent of his innocence.
Steve Bannon reportedly was reconsidering supporting Moore. At present Moore had seemingly taken over the spotlight from Trump.
The media was all over him as many people wanted him to step down. An aide for Republicans wanted to see Trump help them persuade Moore. “If he doesn’t have Trump, who does he have?” the aide said.
Media Attacks?
Moore asked “why do you think they’re giving me this trouble? Why do you think I’m being harassed by media and by people pushing allegations in the last 28 days of the election? … After 40-something years of fighting this battle, I’m now facing allegations and that’s all the press wants to talk about.”
“But I want to talk about the issues,” he added. “I want to talk about where this country’s going, and if we don’t come back to God, we’re not going anywhere.”
Moore said “the Washington Post published another attack on my character and reputation because they are desperate to stop my political campaign. These attacks said I was with a minor child and are false and untrue — and for which they will be sued.”
Alabama GOP
Alabama GOP Chairwoman Terry Lathan threatened those who would no longer support Moore.
Lathan said “it would be a serious error for any current elected GOP official or candidate to publicly endorse another party’s candidate, an independent, a third party or a write in candidate in a general election as well.”
Alabama GOP bylaws allow them “the right to deny ballot access to a candidate for public office.”
Anyone who “either publicly participated in the primary election of another political party or publicly supported a nominee of another political party” could lose out.
Rep. Mo Brooks said “as long as Roy Moore is our nominee, a Republican cannot wage a write-in campaign under Alabama Republican Party rules and be on the ballot as a Republican in the future.”
“This is the political tightrope of the century,” said Alabama GOP strategist David Ferguson. “How do these elected officials answer the allegations against Roy Moore, in a hyper-political environment, without isolating their Republican base and without disregarding the very serious charges that are on the table all seven months before another heated round of statewide primaries?”