BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – If you ask Doug Jones, there’s no political scandal in Alabama.
Jones, the Democratic Senate candidate whose fortunes have been dramatically boosted by allegations of sexual conduct against his Republican opponent, says he’s barely paying attention to what’s happening “over there.”
“We’re going to stay in our lane,” Jones told reporters gathered on a Birmingham street corner on Tuesday.
Like Democrats nationwide, Jones has adopted a fierce, keep-your-head-down strategy as scandal reshapes Alabama’s Dec. 12 special Senate election and gives Democrats hope – albeit a distant one – of claiming the Senate majority next year. While Republican Roy Moore faces extraordinary pressure from national Republicans to quit the race, Democrats are following one of the oldest rules in the political playbook: When your opponent is imploding, get out of the way.
“There’s still a lot of uncertainty with what’s going on right now,” Jones said Tuesday after a fourth consecutive question about Moore’s struggle. “We’re going to let that play out over there.”