Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., had strong words for embattled Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore on Monday, saying allegations of sexual misconduct should keep him out of Washington, D.C.
"If you can't go to a mall in Alabama, maybe you shouldn't go to the Senate," Graham said on Fox News Radio's "The Brian Kilmeade Show," referencing reports that suggested Moore may have been banned from an Alabama mall in the late 1970s and early 1980s after he was pursing teenage girls. He was in his early 30s at the time.
The Washington Post has run multiple stories detailing allegations that Moore either had sexual contact with teenage girls or pursued romantic relationships with them when he was, in some cases, more than twice their age.
Moore is running in a Dec. 12 special election against Democrat Doug Jones. Graham said Moore will probably lose, if he continues to stay in the race, and that will hurt the Republican Party on Capitol Hill. Polls show Moore is trailing by as many as 8 points.
"I think he's a terrible nominee for the Republican Party, and we'll probably lose a seat that's impossible to lose, almost, as a Republican," Graham said.
"We're about to give away a seat that can determine the future of [President Donald] Trump's agenda, and I hope the good people of Alabama on the Republican side will try to find a way to pick a nominee that can represent the conservative cause in an effective way."
Graham said he would like to see Moore replaced with another Republican, which could give the party a better chance at retaining the seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., has occupied the seat since earlier this year when Sessions was sworn in.
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