The National Rifle Association endorsed former Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville in the Alabama U.S. Senate race, giving Tuberville an “AQ” rating. The pro-gun and pro-Second Amendment group gave incumbent Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, a “D” rating.
The “AQ” rating means that Tuberville is strongly pro-gun.
“Too many members of the U.S. Congress believe that the Second Amendment is merely a suggestion and not a hard-earned constitutional right,” Tuberville stated. “Whether it is for hunting, sport shooting, home defense, or simply because they want one, every law-abiding U.S. citizen has the right to own a gun, and I will go toe-to-toe with any lawmaker who tries to take away that freedom.”
Tuberville is running general election television ads outlining the differences with Jones. Tuberville is trying to link Jones with liberal Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York.
“Since becoming interim senator, Doug Jones has opposed everything that Alabamians support and supported everything that Alabamians oppose,” Tuberville campaign manager Paul Shashy said. “Coach Tuberville’s ad makes the case that on issues like abortion, gun control, and taxes, Doug Jones represents liberal California and New York values, not conservative Alabama values.”
The Tuberville campaign is also pointing out that “Doug Jones voted to impeach Trump,” although technically Trump was already impeached by the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives. Jones voted to convict the president on the charges brought by House Democrats.
Jones said Monday that Tuberville, “Doesn’t have a clue.”
Jones is the only Democrat to win a statewide race in Alabama since 2008, when he defeated former Chief Justice Roy Moore in a special election December 2017. Now he is seeking a full six-year term in the U.S. Senate. This is Tuberville’s first run for public office. The Arkansas native lives in Auburn. He has been a head football coach at Auburn University, Texas Tech, Mississippi and Cincinnati. He previously was a defensive coordinator at Miami and Texas A&M.
Alabama voters began voting on Wednesday across the state by absentee ballot.
