New polling shows 'unelectable' Roy Moore at distant third in Alabama GOP Senate primary

Polling released Wednesday morning shows Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore currently coming in at third place in the state's Republican primary.

The survey of over 600 likely primary voters from Cygnal shows Moore 16 points behind former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville and 8 points behind U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne in the contest for the Republican nomination.

The 2020 Senate election in the Yellowhammer state is for the seat vacated by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and currently held by Democratic incumbent Doug Jones, who beat Moore in the 2017 special election after allegations of sexual misconduct with minors came out against the former state Chief Justice.

Wednesday's poll numbers also found that over one-fifth of likely primary voters were still undecided. but don't expect too many of those undecided voters to flock to Moore's camp. The survey also found that Moore's favorability with likely primary voters is deep underwater at the moment, with a 27.7 percent to 65.4 percent favorable/unfavorable.

"Entering the race with a -38 net favorability is going to be an enormous hurdle for Moore to get over – even if he does have a horse." Cygnal CEO and founder Brent Buchanan said of the results in a statement.

"Last week I would have said - and did - that Roy Moore is in the 'catbird seat' to be in a runoff," Buchannan added. "That was based on his February 2019 image. President Trump recently turning on Roy Moore has caused significant damage to Moore's standing with Republican voters to the point Moore is unelectable."

Moore announced another bid for the seat last week, despite recent criticisms from President Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

"Republicans cannot allow themselves to again lose the Senate seat in the Great State of Alabama," the president tweeted in May. "Roy Moore cannot win, and the consequences will be devastating."

"You're literally the only candidate who could lose a GOP seat in pro-Trump, pro-USA ALABAMA," the president's son told Moore on social media. "Running for office should never become a business model. If you actually care about #MAGA more than your own ego, it's time to ride off into the sunset, Judge."

Wednesday's poll numbers feature a margin of error of +/- 3.96 percent.

Editor's note: State legislator Arnold Mooney is a candidate in the Alabama Senate Republican primary and the father of Blaze Media president Gaston Mooney. TheBlaze is a Blaze Media digital property. The author's reportage is his own and was not influenced by anyone associated with Blaze Media or Mooney's campaign.