By Samuel Mattison
Alabama Political Reporter
President Donald Trump is moving up his rally to Friday come campaign for U.S. Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., according to multiple media outlets.
Trump originally announced that he would come to support Strange on Saturday, but he changed the decision on late Monday.
Strange is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Jeff Sessions after he was appointed to U.S. attorney general by Trump.
The president endorsed Strange on Twitter right before the August primaries where Strange placed second in the race.
Strange’s opponent, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, has won endorsements from several Trump allies, including former Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Trump Campaign Advisor Roger Stone and Fox News TV host Sean Hannity.
He was even endorsed state Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle, who co-chaired Trump’s Alabama campaign. Henry was originally a U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, supporter until Brooks places third in the primary and didn’t qualify for the runoff. Brooks endorsed Moore at an event in Huntsville on Saturday after much speculation.
Perry Hooper, a former state representative and chairman of Trump’s Alabama Victory Committee, endorsed Strange in May.
While Moore has endorsements from candidates, Strange’s campaign has been assisted by Super PACS pouring millions into the race. The Super PAC Senate Leadership Fund, which has connections to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has run multiple ad campaigns in favor of Strange and attack ads against his opponents.
Strange, too, has aligned his position to be more in line with the president. Earlier this month, Strange sent an email to supporters saying that he doesn’t support the Senate filibuster rules. He said he doesn’t support them because they have been used to block Trump’s agenda.
This is a change from Strange’s earlier position when he signed a letter, along with dozens of other senators, to Senate leaders McConnell and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., asking that they don’t get rid of the rule.
The Republican runoff is set for less than a week from now on Tuesday. The winner of the runoff will face Democratic nominee Doug Jones, who won his primary back in August.
