President Donald Trump tweeted Monday morning that “we need” Roy Moore to win the Alabama Senate race.

Trump’s de facto endorsement echoes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s.

Recent polling suggests many Alabama Republicans do not believe the allegations against Moore, who has been accused of sexual misconduct.

The race is close, with Moore tied with or slightly ahead of his Democratic rival in polls.

President Donald Trump on Monday morning tweeted support for Roy Moore, the US Senate candidate in Alabama who stands accused of sexual misconduct with teenagers.

“Democrats refusal to give even one vote for massive Tax Cuts is why we need Republican Roy Moore to win in Alabama,” Trump tweeted. “We need his vote on stopping crime, illegal immigration, Border Wall, Military, Pro Life, V.A., Judges 2nd Amendment and more.”

Trump also spoke out against Moore’s Democratic rival, Doug Jones, calling Jones a “puppet” of the Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.

“Putting Pelosi/Schumer Liberal Puppet Jones into office in Alabama would hurt our great Republican Agenda of low on taxes, tough on crime, strong on military and borders…& so much more,” Trump said.

Trump’s Monday-morning tweets follow a de facto endorsement he gave Moore in November. It comes after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walked back his stance on Moore.

McConnell, who previously asked Moore to step aside, told ABC’s “This Week” that he was going to “let the people of Alabama make the call” on whether Moore should serve.

Lees ook op Business Insider Winkelketens Expresso en Claudia Sträter binnen maand na doorstart weer doorverkocht

A CBS poll on Sunday found Moore leading Jones by 6 points, but another poll found the two in a tie. The CBS poll also found 71% of Republicans in Alabama didn’t believe the allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore.

In total, seven women have said Moore pursued relationshpis with them when they were in their teens and he was in his 30s.

Over the weekend, the Senate passed Republicans’ tax bill in the dead of night by a 51-49 vote, putting Trump close to achieving his first major legislative victory. Any erosion of the Republican majority in the Senate could hamper his future chances of passing similar legislation.