Acting Sen. Luther Strange said Thursday he believes President Donald Trump's support of him over his challenger, former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, will be key in his winning the race to replace now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
"The polls are almost meaningless at this point," Strange told Fox News' "Happening Now" program.
"It's who gets their voters out to the polls."
Trump remains extremely popular in Alabama, said Strange, and to have both him and Vice President Mike Pence say they want him will be the difference in the race, as they both believe him to be effective and that he knows how to get things done.
Strange was appointed to Sessions' seat earlier this year, and while Trump supports him, some conservatives are backing Moore instead, including former Trump aides Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka.
Moore and Strange will face each other Thursday afternoon at the Alabama Activities Center in Montgomery for the only debate before next week's election. Meanwhile, both Trump and Pence plan to travel to Alabama to campaign for Strong personally.
Trump planned a rally in Huntsville on Friday, while Pence is scheduled to be in Birmingham on Monday. Meanwhile, Gorka and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin plan to campaign for Moore in Alabama over the weekend.
The runoff primary race will be held on Sept. 26. The winner will face Democrat Doug Jones in the Dec. 12 special election for Sessions' former seat.
Strange said Trump's support has come because of their close personal friendship and because the president knows he'll remain loyal to him and his agenda.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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