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| Alabama Senate race: Trump records message for Roy Moore | Alabama Senate race: Trump records message for Roy Moore |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has recorded an audio message for a Republican Senate candidate accused of sexual misconduct, on the eve of the election. | US President Donald Trump has recorded an audio message for a Republican Senate candidate accused of sexual misconduct, on the eve of the election. |
| The president has thrown his political weight fully behind former Alabama judge Roy Moore, who is vying with Democrat Doug Jones for the seat. | The president has thrown his political weight fully behind former Alabama judge Roy Moore, who is vying with Democrat Doug Jones for the seat. |
| Mr Moore denies claims by several women that he made unwelcome sexual advances, mostly when they were teenagers. | Mr Moore denies claims by several women that he made unwelcome sexual advances, mostly when they were teenagers. |
| The race remains too close to call a day before Alabamians go to the polls. | The race remains too close to call a day before Alabamians go to the polls. |
| Tuesday's election could alter the balance of power in the Senate ahead of next year's mid-term Congressional elections. | Tuesday's election could alter the balance of power in the Senate ahead of next year's mid-term Congressional elections. |
| Mr Trump has pointed to Mr Moore's repeated denial of the allegations against him as part of his reason for endorsing the former Alabama supreme court judge. | Mr Trump has pointed to Mr Moore's repeated denial of the allegations against him as part of his reason for endorsing the former Alabama supreme court judge. |
| One woman alleges Mr Moore molested her when she was 14. Another says he tried to rape her. | One woman alleges Mr Moore molested her when she was 14. Another says he tried to rape her. |
| At a rally on Monday night, Mr Moore reiterated his denials, again questioning why his accusers kept quiet for 40 years while he held various political offices. | |
| Speaking alongside Mr Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, in front of a crowd which chanted the president's slogan "Drain the Swamp", Mr Moore drew heavily from the Bible. | |
| "I want to make America great again with President Trump," he said. "I want America great, but I want America good, and she can't be good until we go back to God." | |
| Mr Moore's campaign rolled out an audio message earlier on Monday with a recording of Mr Trump telling voters his agenda will be "stopped cold" if Mr Moore were to lose. | |
| At a rally in Florida on Friday, Mr Trump proclaimed his support for the 70-year-old conservative Christian. | At a rally in Florida on Friday, Mr Trump proclaimed his support for the 70-year-old conservative Christian. |
| Fitting end to unpredictable year | Fitting end to unpredictable year |
| Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News | Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News |
| Democrat Doug Jones is ahead by 10 points. No, Republican Roy Moore has a nine-point lead. | Democrat Doug Jones is ahead by 10 points. No, Republican Roy Moore has a nine-point lead. |
| The latest batch of Alabama opinion polls are having a difficult time contending with the idiosyncrasies of a low-turnout, mid-December special election, a scandal-plagued Republican candidate in a deeply conservative state and a Democratic base that, while small, may be intensely motivated. | The latest batch of Alabama opinion polls are having a difficult time contending with the idiosyncrasies of a low-turnout, mid-December special election, a scandal-plagued Republican candidate in a deeply conservative state and a Democratic base that, while small, may be intensely motivated. |
| With so many variables at play, it will be tough to draw conclusions about the results of this election - but that won't deter anyone. | With so many variables at play, it will be tough to draw conclusions about the results of this election - but that won't deter anyone. |
| A Jones win would not only be seen as a stern rebuke of President Trump, who has put his name on the line for Moore, it would make Democratic control of the US Senate in 2019 a much more realistic possibility. | A Jones win would not only be seen as a stern rebuke of President Trump, who has put his name on the line for Moore, it would make Democratic control of the US Senate in 2019 a much more realistic possibility. |
| If Mr Moore prevails, it'd be a prize for the anti-establishment Steve Bannon faction of the Republican Party and an indication that, when it comes to a seat in the US Senate, ideology matters most for some. | If Mr Moore prevails, it'd be a prize for the anti-establishment Steve Bannon faction of the Republican Party and an indication that, when it comes to a seat in the US Senate, ideology matters most for some. |
| Back when Mr Trump named Senator Jeff Sessions to be attorney general last November, no one imagined all eyes would now be on Alabama. It makes for a fitting end to an entirely unpredictable year, however. | Back when Mr Trump named Senator Jeff Sessions to be attorney general last November, no one imagined all eyes would now be on Alabama. It makes for a fitting end to an entirely unpredictable year, however. |
| Many other national Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have distanced themselves from their party's candidate. | Many other national Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have distanced themselves from their party's candidate. |
| But Richard Shelby, Alabama's other senator, said on Sunday he could not endorse Mr Moore because he found his accusers "believable" and the state "deserves better". | But Richard Shelby, Alabama's other senator, said on Sunday he could not endorse Mr Moore because he found his accusers "believable" and the state "deserves better". |
| The Moore team is banking on voters in the Deep South staunchly conservative heartland refusing to pick a Democrat. | The Moore team is banking on voters in the Deep South staunchly conservative heartland refusing to pick a Democrat. |
| On Monday in Birmingham, Mr Jones, a 63-year-old prosecutor, accused his Republican opponent of hiding. | On Monday in Birmingham, Mr Jones, a 63-year-old prosecutor, accused his Republican opponent of hiding. |
| In Washington, a Democratic lawmaker has sent a letter to the Senate's Sergeant at Arms urging that Congress take steps to ensure the safety of teenagers working in the Senate page programme from Mr Moore's "predatory conduct". | In Washington, a Democratic lawmaker has sent a letter to the Senate's Sergeant at Arms urging that Congress take steps to ensure the safety of teenagers working in the Senate page programme from Mr Moore's "predatory conduct". |
| "I believe my fears are well founded", wrote Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore, citing the multiple allegations against Mr Moore. | "I believe my fears are well founded", wrote Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore, citing the multiple allegations against Mr Moore. |
| Mr Moore has kept a low profile in recent days, but he said in an interview with The Voice of Alabama Politics on Sunday that he "never molested anyone" and had been a victim of "ritual defamation". | |
| Mr Jones has spent the past week rallying African-Americans, and he held a series of rallies across the state on Sunday. | Mr Jones has spent the past week rallying African-Americans, and he held a series of rallies across the state on Sunday. |
| Former President Barack Obama and former Vice-President Joe Biden have recorded robo-calls for him. | Former President Barack Obama and former Vice-President Joe Biden have recorded robo-calls for him. |
| Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, an African-American Alabamian, released a statement on Monday urging voters "to reject bigotry, sexism, and intolerance", but did not include an endorsement for either major party candidate. | Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, an African-American Alabamian, released a statement on Monday urging voters "to reject bigotry, sexism, and intolerance", but did not include an endorsement for either major party candidate. |
| "It is imperative for Americans to remain focused on our priorities and not give way to side shows and antics," she said, adding that the state needs "an independent voice in Washington". | "It is imperative for Americans to remain focused on our priorities and not give way to side shows and antics," she said, adding that the state needs "an independent voice in Washington". |
| Tuesday's winner will take the seat held previously by Trump administration Attorney General Jeff Sessions. | Tuesday's winner will take the seat held previously by Trump administration Attorney General Jeff Sessions. |
| Mr Trump won the state by 28 percentage points over Hillary Clinton in last year's presidential election. | Mr Trump won the state by 28 percentage points over Hillary Clinton in last year's presidential election. |