By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
The voters of the Alabama Republican Party went to the polls and selected Roy Moore to be their nominee in the race for U.S. Senate.
The Washington elites led by Karl Rove, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the Senate Leadership Fund, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association, and the National Republican Senate Committee, all backed Strange. The expensive outside lobbyists declared a media war on Moore. Republicans voters received upwards of 50 mailers to their mailboxes. TV and radio spots touting Strange and attacking Moore bombarded viewers and listeners for weeks.
Strange’s out-of-state handlers and consultants spent an estimated $30 million in this race, most of it to smear Moore.
Moore was a known commodity to the people of Alabama and they simply did not believe any of the out of state message claiming that Moore was soft on guns, would vote with Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, Moore was dishonest, or Luther would do more to fight for religious liberty than Moore. Strange, who was seen by most rational observers as the moderate in this race, never made the case for moderation.
Instead Strange and SLF tried to make the argument that he was more conservative than Moore. The voters were unmoved by the mountains of money thrown into the race by Strange’s corporate friends and large donors. Most observers felt that Moore won the debate. Strange spent the whole time telling the world that the president picked him to be the Senator. Unfortunately for Strange, presidents don’t get to pick Senators in Alabama, Alabama voters do.
In a last-minute ploy, the Strange campaign even flew in President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for get out the vote (GOTV) rallies in Huntsville and Birmingham the final weekend of the race. The voters had already made up their minds. The presidential visits did nothing to move the polls.
Former state Attorney General Strange never could adequately explain how he could be investigating Gov. Robert Bentley on one day and be interviewing for a coveted Senate appointment just weeks later or why Strange interfered with the impeachment investigation by the House Judiciary Committee. Gov. Bentley’s eventual resignation only seemed to confirm the suspicions that many had about Strange.
As of press time Moore had 262,204 votes (54.6 percent). Luther Strange has 218,066 (45.4 percent). Of the over 2,000 precincts in Alabama, 97 percent of boxes had reported. Moore was winning in 62 of Alabama’s Counties, Strange carried his home County of Jefferson and nearby Shelby County. Moore’s decision to campaign in South Alabama the last weekend of the campaign paid off big dividends as Moore carried Mobile County 56.3 to 43.7 percent and Baldwin County 52.9 to 47.1 percent. Moore took 52.1 percent of the vote in Montgomery County.
Moore supporters were jubilant all night as Moore’s lead climbed with each new batch of results.
Alabama Crimson Tide football star Siran Stacy preached unity, the power of prayer, revival, and led the crowd in singing a moving rendition of, “Make me a Sanctuary.”
The crowd later sang “How Great Thou Art,” led by a teen gospel/country singer.
Breitbart News Executive Chair Steve Bannon credited Alabama voters and the conservative tide with U.S. Sen. Bob Corker’s, R-Tenn., decision on Tuesday to announce that he would not seek another term in the U.S. Senate.
Bannon said that Moore, who was outspent $30 million to just $2.5 million, proved that conservative campaigns do not need to raise money from the elitists and the corporatists to win. Bannon denounced the, “Politics of personal destruction” used by the Strange campaign to try to tear down Moore who he called a “good man.”
According to some media estimates, Strange and his wealthy allies spent over $150 per vote.
“A question was asked today,” Bannon said. “Who is sovereign: the people or the money? And Alabama answered: ‘the people.'”
Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Moore thanked Campaign Chairman Bill Armistead, Campaign Manager Rich Hobson, the Ford family, his security man – Leonard Holyfield, and God.
“He has done more for my campaign than anybody and this is almighty God,” Moore said. “I have never prayed to win this campaign. I prayed for God to build me up.”
Moore said that he had talked with Gov. Kay Ivey, “Senator Strange he will work with me,” Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., before coming on stage.
Moore said that he will be supportive of the president, “As long as it is constitutional.”
Moore, who rose to state and national prominence as “The Ten Commandments Judge” said, “We must restore the knowledge of God and the Constitution to the Congress. We are one nation under God and we can become one nation unified.”
Trump called to congratulate Moore on the resounding victory following Moore’s victory speech.
Moore faces Clinton-era U.S. Attorney Doug Jones in the special general election on Dec. 12, 2017.
