Alabama Republicans have placed GOP candidates across the country in a disastrous political situation by refusing to oust pedophile Roy Moore as their Senate candidate. Already, Republicans are being forced to choose between the Mitch McConnell and Steve Bannon wings of the GOP, but with no surefire way of avoiding becoming collateral damage themselves.
Choosing the Bannon side of the fight and backing Moore might well result in sacrificing another GOP voting bloc: suburban whites. The once-dependable demographic already appears to be repulsed by another sexual predator in the party, Donald Trump, if Virginia's voting patterns presage a nationwide shift. On the other hand, distancing themselves from Moore might bring a backlash from Trump’s fiery base supporters.
Democrats are already pushing the dilemma on candidates they're likely to face in next year's elections, including Senate hopefuls Josh Mandel of Ohio, Corey Stewart of Virginia, and Rep. Martha McSally of Arizona; along with GOP congressmen running for re-election such as Indiana’s Todd Rokita and California’s Darrell Issa; and even GOP gubernatorial candidates such as South Carolina’s Catherine Templeton, who declined to pressure Moore to drop out of the race. All of them have been pressed to take sides on the Moore issue. Politico writes:
"You can say we didn't respond," a Mandel spokeswoman initially told The Associated Press.
By Thursday, Mandel had come to a decision. “I agree with @IvankaTrump. If these allegations are true, Roy Moore must step down,” he wrote on Twitter.
In Virginia and Texas, Democratic candidates are using Moore's toxicity to raise money for their campaigns.
Will you help compound the GOP’s Moore headache by contributing $3 to our slate of endorsed candidates? Every penny counts toward a Democratic wave!
“Corey Stewart, who wants to represent all Virginians in the Senate, believes that Roy Moore’s disgusting and predatory behavior should not be condemned,” Kaine’s digital director told his backers in a Monday fundraising email, referring to the former Trump Virginia campaign chairman who is challenging Kaine.
“It’s not that complicated, Ted Cruz: We’re talking about potentially elevating a man who preyed on young girls to the U.S. Senate,” added the campaign team for O’Rourke, who is challenging Cruz, on Friday. Cruz has since rescinded his Moore endorsement.
Moore is also putting many Bannon allies in a bind.
The situation is even more awkward for Bannon-aligned Republicans. Some, including Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Senate candidates Kevin Nicholson of Wisconsin and Matt Rosendale of Montana, have suggested Moore should drop out of the race.
But another member of Bannon’s army of insurgents, Nevada’s Danny Tarkanian, who is challenging Sen. Dean Heller in the GOP primary, has said he doesn’t think Moore should leave the contest.
“I’m deeply troubled by the character assassination campaign now being directed at Judge Roy Moore in the Alabama U.S. Senate race,” Tarkanian said.
Sen. Heller's campaign is skewering Tarkanian for that position. But whichever Republican emerges victorious in that Nevada Senate primary will likely have sacrificed some GOP support along the way, whether it’s among the rabid base or white suburbia.