The 357,000-member Alabama Farmers Federation, the largest farm group in the state, endorsed appointed Sen. Luther Strange four months ago and is standing by him for next Tuesday’s runoff election with Roy Moore, former chief justice of the state Supreme Court. President Trump is scheduled to hold a rally for Strange on Friday night in Huntsville, in northern Alabama.
Last month, in the first round of voting, Moore outpolled Strange, taking 39 percent of the vote to Strange’s 33 percent, despite Trump’s endorsement of the senator. In an automated telephone poll of likely voters, released on Monday, Moore led Strange 47 percent to 39 percent, with 13 percent undecided, said WHNT-TV. Strange, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has been attacked by foes as the establishment candidate, despite the backing of Trump, who promised to disrupt the status quo. Moore is a hard-right conservative, and Democrats believe they have a chance to win the Dec. 12 general election if he is the GOP nominee.
Strange has “a strong record of speaking out against federal overreach,” said a Farmers Federation spokeswoman, pointing to Strange’s efforts, as state attorney general, to block the clean water rule known as Waters of the United States, or WOTUS. “That was a big thing for Alabama farmers.” During the summer, Strange brought Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt, and Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts to meet with Alabama farmers, regarded as a sign that Washington would listen to the state’s farming community. Strange is the first member of the Agriculture Committee to face reelection since Trump took office. Seven of the 10 Democrats on the committee are up for reelection in 2018.
The president is popular in Alabama, and ahead of the first round of voting, GOP candidates vied to show their dedication to the Trump agenda. Earlier this week, Trump tweeted, “Looking forward to Friday night in the Great State of Alabama. I am supporting ‘Big’ Luther Strange because he was so loyal & helpful to me!” Presidents usually stay out of primary contests. The Washington Post said Alabama was a test of Trump’s willingness to bolster endangered incumbents. A victory by the Bible-quoting Moore, who has called for impeachment of judges who issue rulings in favor of same-sex marriage, could set the tone for the 2018 primary season. Moore is backed by former Trump strategist Stephen Bannon.