President Donald Trump announced the appearance in a Saturday evening tweet. | John Minchillo/AP Trump to campaign in Alabama for Strange

President Donald Trump will head to Alabama next weekend to hold an event in support of GOP Sen. Luther Strange, giving the incumbent a major boost just days before this month’s special election.

Trump announced the appearance in a Saturday evening tweet.


“I will be in Huntsville, Alabama, on Saturday night to support Luther Strange for Senate,” Trump tweeted. “‘Big Luther’ is a great guy who gets things done!”

Strange is facing off against Roy Moore, a controversial former state judge, in a Sept. 26 GOP runoff. While Strange has counted on the support of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and much of the GOP establishment, Moore has captured the backing of hardline conservatives like former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks, a member of the House Freedom Caucus.

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Trump endorsed Strange prior to the first round of voting on Aug. 15, but he had been silent on the race since. Polls have shown Moore with a substantial lead in the race, but the high-profile presidential visit could make an impact. While Trump’s support has diminished elsewhere, he remains popular in conservative Alabama.

In recent weeks, senior Republicans had been pleading with the president to intervene in the contest.

Whoever finishes ahead in the GOP runoff is expected to hold the conservative-friendly seat in the December general election. Jeff Sessions held the seat for two decades prior to becoming attorney general this year.

