By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Friday, July 14, 2017, the Roy Moore for US Senate campaign announced their fundraising numbers for the second quarter.
During the second quarter, the Moore campaign raised $305,612.60 from 2,787 donors. The vast majority of these donations came from small dollar donors, with 91 percent of donations received being under $100.00.
Chief Justice Moore said, “This race isn’t going to be decided by a Washington lobbyists cutting big checks. It is going to be decided by the retired veteran sending in $50 from his Social Security check. By the single mom who wants to see Alabama’s economy grow so she can her children a better life and goes online to give $25. This is going to be won by the people of Alabama. NOT the swamp dwellers of Washington.”
Moore’s Campaign Chairman, former Alabama Republican Party Chairman said, “I think the fundraising numbers paint a very clear picture,” said campaign chairman Bill Armistead. “Judge Moore isn’t Washington’s candidate, he is the people’s candidate. He will go Washington to represent the people of this State, not special interest groups or be beholden to any power brokers. Judge Roy Moore answers to God and the people of Alabama. No one else.”
While Moore has strong backing from among the common people of Alabama, Senator Strange has the backing of powerful DC insiders and PACs who have pledged millions to his campaign. Sen. Strange has been using that money to buy advertising claiming that he is the candidate most loyal to President Donald J. Trump (R). Sen. Strange told reporters, “My opponents Mo Brooks and Roy Moore, to some extent, are really, really strong anti-Trumpers with long records of attacking the president.”
State Representative Ed Henry (R-Hartselle) was Trump’s Alabama campaign co-chair denies the claim the Strange was a Trump supporter. “I will say, the minute Donald Trump won the election Luther Strange did become a supporter of Donald Trump, just as most Americans did,” Henry said. “So, he really took no risk with his political career there.” Henry called Strange’s ads deceitful. “I think next we’re going to find out Luther Strange actually invented apple pie.”
Recent polling has Moore at 28 percent. Strange is at 23 percent, followed by Brooks at 21 percent.
Ten Republicans are running for the US Senate. They include: James Paul Beretta, Joseph F. Breault, Randy Brinson, Mo Brooks, Dom Gentile, Mary Maxwell, Roy Moore, Bryan Peeples, Trip Pittman, and Luther Strange.
Eight candidates qualified with the Alabama Democratic Party to run in the US Senate Special Primary Election. Qualified candidates are Will Boyd, Vann Caldwell, Jason Fisher, Michael Hansen, Doug Jones, Robert Kennedy, Jr., Brian McGee, and Charles Nana.
The Special Major Party Primaries are on August 15, 2017. The Major Party runoffs will be on September 28, 2017. The Special General Election will be on December 12, 2017.
Original reporting by APR’s Samuel Mattison contributed to this report.
