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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 11 November 2017
Moore defiant as GOP sees Alabama Senate seat at risk

Continued from Front In the immediate after-
math of the Post report
The story has produced a Thursday, a wave of na-
wave of concern among tional Republican leaders
anxious GOP officials in called for Moore to drop
Washington but little more out of the race if the alle-
than a collective shrug gations are true. They in-
from many Republicans in cluded the White House,
Alabama, which holds a the head of the House
special election on Dec. Freedom Caucus Mark
12 to fill the seat previously Meadows, Senate Majority
held by Attorney General Leader Mitch McConnell
Jeff Sessions. and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. It
“Humphrey Bogart started got worse Friday.
dating Lauren Bacall when The Senate GOP’s cam-
she was a teenager,” said paign arm formally ended
state Auditor Jim Ziegler, re- its fundraising agreement
ferring to the then-19-year- with Moore. The GOP’s
old actress. 2012 presidential nominee
“I’ll always vote for him,” Mitt Romney condemned
said 28-year-old Erica Rich- his colleagues’ caveat
ard, of Altoona, Alabama, — only if the allegations
adding that she wouldn’t are true. “Innocent until
change her mind even if proven guilty is for criminal
the allegations of sexual convictions, not elections.
misconduct are proven Crystal Schilleci, 32, of Altoona, Ala., stands behind a grocery store counter in Mountain Top, Ala., I believe Leigh Corfman,”
true. “He’s a good man. I on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Schilleci says, she thinks Roy Moore is a “wonderful person, he’s been an he said of the Alabama
outstanding member of our community for years, and always doing good thing for us, but I think
love him and his family, and when an allegation like that is made, I think it should be taken seriously no matter how old you are woman who said Moore
they are all good people.” or how long it has been,” says Schilleci. She says she didn’t vote in the last election but will vote in molested her when she
Paul Reynolds, Alabama’s December for Roy Moore unless the allegations are true. was 14. “Her account is too
Republican National Com- (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) serious to ignore. Moore is
mitteeman, called it “a bama Senate seat, held to college-educated sub- polling of the Alabama unfit for office and should
firestorm designed to ship- by the GOP for the last 20 urban voters — the same race suggest it was always step aside.”
wreck a campaign in Ala- years, is now at risk. group that fueled a big going to be close despite Facing a tough re-elec-
bama. I think it’s sinister.” They fear the controver- Democratic victory in the the state’s strong Republi- tion, Virginia Rep. Barbara
Despite such support, ex- sy could exacerbate the Virginia governor’s race this can leanings — largely be- Comstock, R-Va., likened
perienced Republican op- party’s broader Trump-era week. cause of Moore’s contro- Moore to Hollywood pro-
eratives believe the Ala- challenge in appealing Those familiar with recent versial past. ducer Harvey Weinstein,
former Rep. Anthony Wein-
er and former Fox News
executive Roger Ailes, all
men accused of sexual
misconduct.“The defense
from some of his support-
ers is beyond disgusting,”
Comstock wrote. “Moore
should not serve in the U.S.
Senate.”
Yet there is no sign he is
going away quietly. And
the Alabama secretary of
state’s office reported that
it’s too late to remove his
name from the ballot.
The Republican Party’s op-
tions, including the possibil-
ity of a write-in campaign,
“are all being researched,”
said Steven Law, who leads
the pro-Republican Senate
Leadership Fund.
Those who think Moore
should be replaced have
little hope of that happen-
ing. “I don’t think anyone
expects Roy Moore to drop
out of this race,” Law said.
“I think he enjoys being an
object of intense contro-
versy. The fact that this has
happened may make him
even more committed.”q