President Donald Trump held a town hall on the phone with former Auburn University football head coach Tommy Tuberville on Monday night before Tuesday, the day of Alabama’s primary election.
Trump has backed Tuberville in the second round of the United States Republican Senate against former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Sessions was Trump’s first attorney general after being one of the first supporters of his 2016 campaign, however, the president has strongly criticized Sessions since he withdrew from the Russia investigation. Trump has even asked Sessions to leave the Senate race, and Tuberville recently appeared on Air Force One with the president.
During telecast town hall before the second round, Trump continued to urge Alabamians to send a new option to Washington, DC, attacking Sessions in the process.
Trump began his remarks by noting: "It's great to talk to the people of Alabama, a place that I love, a place where we've had great success." Where they like me and I like them, maybe love is a better word, frankly. But it has been a great state. "
"And I love helping you," Trump continued. "And one of the ways we're going to help him is by strongly recommending Tommy Tuberville as his next senator. He's a tremendous guy. "
Tommy is a very special guy. He is a leader, he is a true conservative, a true conservative, ”the president said of Tuberville. "And he loves your state. And he loves this country. He will protect your Second Amendment as I am.
Trump said the former soccer coach will strongly support the security of the United States border with Mexico, including the construction of "the wall."
The president also discussed his own re-election campaign, as well as the state of his administration. His accomplishments include rebuilding the military and reforming the Veterans Affairs system.
Trump said he sees Tuberville as someone who will help him improve the country's treatment of his veterans.
"I had no idea it could be as bad as it was"
The President then turned his attention to Sessions.
"I will tell you that I knew Jeff Sessions very well," Trump explained. “I made a mistake when I put him on as attorney general. He had his chance and wasted it. He recused himself at first, almost the first day, in a ridiculous scam, the Mueller scam, the 'Russia, Russia, Russia' scam. And Jeff didn't have the courage to stay there. "
"He immediately ran to the hills," added the Sessions president. "And it ruined many lives, many innocent and good lives, people who went there with bright eyes and thick tail, went there and ended up caught in a scam. It was a Pelosi and Schiff scam and just a horrible thing, Schumer, a horrible, horrible thing. "
Then he compared Tuberville and Sessions.
"Tommy Tuberville is going to do a job like you haven't seen," Trump emphasized. “He will take over, and will represent you well. You will receive a direct call to my office. I can tell you that.
“We had the Jeff Sessions thing, we tried it. I had no idea it could be as bad as it was, "advised the President. "But I had no idea. And he just let it slip away. It really is a shame. "
Later, Trump highlighted the 2017 Tax and Job Reduction Act as a major achievement of his administration.
Speaking of these "big tax cuts," Trump added, "Tommy is going to help me, because we're going to make additional tax cuts."
He also pointed to his administration's record of getting rid of heavy government regulations that unnecessarily hamper economic growth. Trump touted that the United States become "energy independent" during his presidency.
“Tommy will do very well in Alabama. Tommy is going to be a really solid guy, he will never disappoint you, "Trump emphasized.
The president, concluding his remarks, once again encouraged Alabamians to go out and vote for Tuberville on Tuesday.
"He will be a tremendous senator," Trump said.
"Time to keep sending strangers to Washington, DC"
The call was not announced to the media, however, Yellowhammer News was one of many registered voters invited by text message to tune in.
Tuberville spoke long after Trump dropped the call. The Senate candidate described, among other elements, his support for the police, conservative judges, God's return to schools and the fight against the rise of socialism.
"I want to fight," said Tuberville. "I am a fighter. I am not a follower, I am a leader. We need an Alabama state leader who will fight."
He later lamented the drug epidemic that plagues many rural communities in Yellowhammer State. Tuberville spoke about his support for rural economic development, including the return of jobs from abroad to local communities.
"We are losing population, we are losing our children, they are moving out of the state," he advised. "We cannot allow that to happen."
Tuberville later commented, "China has been a disaster."
He expressed his support for bringing manufacturing and other jobs back from China "to give our children the opportunity to stay in this state, have good jobs, have families, and enjoy life in the great state of Alabama."
"It is going to be a lot of fun," added Tuberville. "I am doing this for the right reasons. I believe in this country. I believe in this state. I believe in people. "
"President Trump has done a great job being president of the United States, being a businessman," he concluded. “Now is the time to continue sending strangers to Washington DC and help make those difficult decisions. Let's go out to vote tomorrow.
The polls will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Tuesday.
Wearing masks in polling places is recommended, but cannot be legally required. Local election officials, with the support of Secretary of State John Merrill's office, have taken steps to disinfect polling places while allowing social distancing as much as possible.
The winner of the second round of the Republican Senate will face US Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) in November.
Sessions, shortly after the Trump-Tuberville remote, appeared on Fox News' "The Story with Martha MacCallum".
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULiHneqB01g[/embed]On Tuesday, there are also Republican runoffs for Congress on AL-01 and AL-02, as well as a state run through the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, among other respective local issues.
You can find your polling place and sample ballot here.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
