Obama more popular than Trump in Alabama, Fox News poll says

William Cummings | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Wife: Alabama Candidate Moore 'Won't Step Down' Wife of Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore says he won't step down in the face of sexual misconduct allegations. (Nov. 17)

The past sexual misconduct allegations against Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for Senate in Alabama's special election, appear to be taking a toll on his chances of winning the race, according to the results of a poll conducted by Fox News.

The poll has Moore down 9 points from his Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, among registered voters (40% to 49%), and 8 points among likely voters (42% to 50%).

Before reports surfaced that Moore had pursued relationships with teen girls when he was in his 30s, most polls had shown him with a comfortable lead over Jones.

A Fox News poll last month, which showed them in a dead heat at 42%, was one of the only earlier polls not to show Moore in the lead.

The new poll, released Thursday, was conducted from Monday to Wednesday using a random sample of 823 registered Alabama voters with an error margin of 3 points.

The poll also showed that former president Barack Obama (52%) with a higher favorability rating than President Trump (50%). Obama lost Alabama by more than 20 points in both 2008 and 2012.

Jones is now leading the race, according to Real Clear Politics' polling average on Friday afternoon, but only by 0.2%.

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