President Trump on Wednesday praised Alabama Sen. Luther Strange (R) ahead of next week’s GOP primary runoff.
Luther Strange
“Alabama is sooo lucky to have a candidate like « Big » Luther Strange. Smart, tough on crime, borders & trade, loves Vets & Military. Tuesday!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Alabama is sooo lucky to have a candidate like « Big » Luther Strange. Smart, tough on crime, borders & trade, loves Vets & Military. Tuesday! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20,2017
The tweet comes ahead of the closely watched Tuesday election, when Strange will face off against former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore.
Trump endorsed Strange in August ahead of the initial Republican primary, a move that dealt a victory to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has indicated Strange is his pick in the election.
Meanwhile, former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon is backing Moore, a move that breaks with his old boss. Bannon’s Breitbart News, which he returned to after departing from the White House, is also supporting the former Alabama judge.
Trump is slated to campaign in Huntsville, Ala. for Strange on Saturday, while former White House aide Sebastian Gorka will campaign for Moore this weekend. Gorka also previously worked for Breitbart News as the website’s national security editor.
The race, which pits Trump against one of his former top advisors, also pits the conservative Moore against Strange, who is viewed as the establishment candidate by those seeking his ouster.
