Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore’s Democratic opponent is taking to the airwaves to hit him for his burgeoning sex scandal.
Democrat Doug Jones has a new ad out featuring self-described Republicans who say they can’t vote for Moore, alluding throughout the ad to the on-record accusations from five women that Moore pursued sexual encounters with them, including one who was just 14 at the time.
The ad has voters — four Republicans and three Democrats — alluding to the “awful” story before pledging to vote for Jones.
“You read the story and it just shakes you,” one Alabamian says in the ad.
“Don’t decency and integrity matter anymore?” another asks.
“I’m a Republican, but Roy Moore – no way,” a third says.
Moore has aggressively refused to drop out while accusing the women of lying and describing a conspiracy against him from establishment Republicans, Democrats and the media. That’s true even after a fifth woman stepped forward Monday to accuse him of sexually attacking her when she was just 16 years old.
Jones is looking to score what would be a huge upset win for a Democrat in Alabama by running against Moore’s temperament and fitness for office — an argument that has been given a huge boost by the burgeoning scandal.
Republicans still hold out hope they can force Moore from the race and back a write-in candidate, and the local Republicans in charge of whether they’ll cut Moore loose have scheduled a meeting for later this week to decide whether or not to stand by him.
Jones also released a web video featuring Republican Steve Duncan, who ran for local office a few years back and says he’s backing Jones.
“Look in the mirror, check your heart, check your soul,” Duncan says in the spot. Before you pull the lever, remember, do you want someone like Roy Moore? Who’s gonna continue the divisiveness — or how about Doug Jones — who just might bring unity to this country and to this state. I choose Doug Jones. Yep, I’m another Republican. I’m Steve Duncan, I want to be on the right side of history. That’s why I’m voting for Doug Jones.”
Here’s the TV ad’s full script:
Supporter 1: I’m a lifelong Republican, but I just can’t do it.
Supporter 2: I can’t vote for Roy Moore.
Supporter 3: He’s already been removed from office twice.
Supporter 4: This time it’s even worse.
Supporter 5: You read the story and it just shakes you.
Supporter 6: Just awful.
Supporter 7: I just don’t trust him.
Supporter 3: He’s too divisive.
Supporter 5: Don’t decency and integrity matter anymore.
Supporter 4: I’m a Republican, but Roy Moore – no way.
Supporter 1: I’m for Doug Jones.
Supporter 2: I’m another Republican for Doug Jones.
Yep, yep, yep. Excellent.
what good ole boy from alabama doesn’t grab the coochie of a 14 year old?
It’s a good commercial. My fear is that Roy Moore will drop out at the last minute and be replaced by an anonymous write-in candidate. An anonymous R could beat any D in a state like Alabama.
I’m told the most persuasive thing in politics is a conversation with a friend or neighbor. To me this has that quality—if you have doubts, hearing from Republicans who feel the same will free you to act on them. It says “This goes too far.” Second-best thing, if you can’t stand on the porch and talk about it. Sure, some aren’t reachable. But some are.
The second one was good; I’d run that one ten times more than the first, which just looks like the usual phony sentiment. But then again, a lot of people fall for phony sentiment. The second even featured a black guy in a supporting role for about three seconds. That’s progress.