By TODD STACY, Alabama Daily News
In a new television ad launched Tuesday, former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions fends off attacks from rival Senate GOP hopefuls Tommy Tuberville and Bradley Byrne while firing barbs of his own at both candidates.
The new ad titled, “Desperate Attacks” begins airing statewide on cable and broadcast stations this week, according to the Sessions campaign.
The ad calls Byrne and Tuberville “desperate” and says they are “telling lies about Jeff Sessions,” before pointing out that Sessions was the first sitting U.S. Senator to endorse Donald Trump for President in 2016.
Pivoting to attack mode, the ad accuses Byrne of standing “with the liberals” when he called Trump “not fit” to be president in the wake of the “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump can be heard bragging about grabbing women’s private parts. Byrne later affirmed his support of Trump in the 2016 election and has been a staunch defender of the president ever since.
Sessions’ ad accuses Tuberville of being a “tourist in Alabama” who “lives, votes and pays taxes in Florida.” Tuberville recently responded to concerns about his residency by showing his Alabama driver license at a number of GOP campaign events.
Watch the full ad HERE:
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The primary election for the U.S. Senate is March 3rd. Also running for the GOP nomination are former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, State Rep. Arnold Mooney and businessman Stanley Adair.
A recent Alabama Daily News / WBRC / WAFF poll showed that Sessions, Tuberville and Byrne were the leading candidates to potentially enter a primary runoff.