PoliticsMcConnell vows to oppose Moore's Senate bid 'in every way'

© Greg Nash McConnell vows to oppose Moore's Senate bid 'in every way'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) signaled on Thursday that he and his allies will actively work to oppose Roy Moore's Senate bid, after the conservative firebrand jumped into the race. "He can do what he wants to, but we're certainly going to oppose him in every way," McConnell told the Associated Press shortly before Moore's announcement.

Moore announced on Thursday afternoon that he would jump into the Senate race, after previously winning the party's nomination in 2017 only to lose to now-Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.).

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Moore's candidacy is a national nightmare for Republicans. They blame him for losing what they view as a safe GOP seat in a deeply red state that President Trump won easily in 2016.

Moore lost the race after facing multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, though he denied wrongdoing.

National outside groups allied with McConnell had previously indicated they were leaving the door open to working to make sure Moore doesn't win the party's nomination for a second time. McConnell's comments mark the clearest indication that national Republicans intend to try to stop any potential momentum for Moore.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who is close with McConnell, said on Thursday that Alabama "can do better" than Moore, who he warned wouldn't be "good" for the Republican Party.

"I don't think it would help the president. I don't think it would help anybody running. He would ... take a lot of oxygen out of there," Shelby said.

Asked if he thought GOP groups should actively campaign against Moore, he added: "I think a lot of them will."

Moore ran against the national GOP establishment during his 2017 Senate bid, and argued on Thursday that they will try to "smear" him.

"Why is there such a fear, such an anger to somebody running?" Moore said. "The mere mention of my name causes people to get up and arms in D.C."