President Trump dashed Roy Moore’s (second) Senate hopes before they even began.
In a tweet thread on Wednesday morning, Trump urged the candidate he previously endorsed during Alabama’s last raucous Senate race not to run by not-so-subtly suggesting that a Moore bid would have “devastating” consequences and the candidate “cannot win.”
…If Alabama does not elect a Republican to the Senate in 2020, many of the incredible gains that we have made during my Presidency may be lost, including our Pro-Life victories. Roy Moore cannot win, and the consequences will be devastating….Judges and Supreme Court Justices!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2019
While Moore hasn’t officially announced he’s running, he’s made it clear he’s seriously considering taking a second shot at the Senate seat, currently occupied by his former opponent Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL). The Hill reported on Tuesday that Moore intends to announce his candidacy sometime next month.
While Moore’s former campaign spokesperson didn’t confirm the news to TPM, Moore tweeted out the article alongside a quote from Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL), who is running for Jones’ seat, suggesting that Byrne is worried about his potential candidacy.
What is Bradley so worried about? https://t.co/G0kgj4caIP
— Judge Roy Moore (@RealJudgeMoore) May 28, 2019
He knows that if I run I will beat Doug Jones.
— Judge Roy Moore (@RealJudgeMoore) May 28, 2019
Moore’s former campaign spokesperson did not immediately return TPM’s request for comment about Trump’s tweets, but Moore tweeted Wednesday morning, pondering why “the mere mention of my name scares the ‘hell’ out of” people.
Ever wonder why the mere mention of my name scares the “hell” out of the Washington DC establishment, liberals, and LGBT?
Like Pres Trump I want to see America great again, but that is a job only God can do!— Judge Roy Moore (@RealJudgeMoore) May 29, 2019
Moore’s loss to Jones put a Democrat in the ruby-red Senate seat for the first time in 25 years. Moore was dismissed by many in the Republican Party after several women came forward alleging he made sexual advances toward them when they were teens and he was in his 30s.
