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Moore Blasted by Democrat in TV Ads in Alabama Senate Race

Moore Blasted by Democrat in TV Ads in Alabama Senate Race

(Bloomberg) -- The Alabama Democrat running for U.S. Senate has run overwhelmingly more television advertising than his competitor, Roy Moore, since the Republican was accused of pursuing dates or sexual contact with teenagers.

Since Nov. 10, the day after the Washington Post first reported on allegations that have engulfed Moore’s campaign, Democrat Doug Jones has run more than eight times as many campaign ads than his opponent on broadcast TV in Alabama, according to data from Kantar Media’s CMAG, which tracks political advertising.

In a Jones ad first broadcast Monday, the Democrat has begun to use the words of conservatives against Moore. President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, is quoted as saying that there is a "special place in hell for people who prey on children," and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who previously held the Alabama Senate seat, is quoted as saying that he has "no reason to doubt these young women."

Moore has denied the accusations, but has left open the possibility that he dated teenagers while in his early 30s and working as a county prosecutor. Republicans in Washington have denounced Moore and urged him to drop out of the race. He has refused.

Trump, after weeks of refusing to comment on the allegations against Moore, told reporters Tuesday, "Roy Moore denies it. That’s all I can say." The president also said, "We don’t need a liberal Democrat in that seat."

Before the allegations were reported, Moore was heavily favored to win the Dec. 12 special election in the heavily Republican state. Losing the seat to Democrats would make the Republican margin in the Senate even more narrow than its current 52-48.

A breakdown on broadcast TV advertising in the Alabama Senate race (Nov. 10-20):

SponsorSpot Count
Doug Jones4,457
Roy Moore514

Markets where Jones is running his spots in Alabama TV markets:

Mobile957
Huntsville838
Birmingham823
Columbus, Ga.689
Montgomery588
Dothan562

To contact the reporter on this story: John McCormick in Chicago at jmccormick16@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sara Forden at sforden@bloomberg.net, Justin Blum, Laurie Asséo

©2017 Bloomberg L.P.