Roy Moore: 37% of Alabama evangelical Christians 'more likely to vote for him' after sexual misconduct claims

Candidate denies claims he labelled 'fake news'

Moore, here speaking at the Values Voter Summit of the Family Research Council, faces allegations of pursuing relationships with underage women (Reuters)

More than a third of evangelical Christians in Alabama have said they are more likely to vote for Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for Senate, after claims surfaced that he had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl.

Thirty-seven per cent of people who said they were evangelical Christians would be more likely to pick him over Democratic rival Doug Jones even after details of the allegations were published by The Washington Post, they told pollsters JMC.

The claims, relating to events in the late 1970s and early 80s, made 28 per cent of evangelicals less likely to support Mr Moore, while 34 per cent said they made no difference.

Mr Moore, at the time 18 years his accuser's senior, has denied the Post‘s report, calling it “fake news” and saying he would sue in response.

Overall, 29 per cent of the 575 responders said they would be more likely to vote for the former judge following the report. The poll had a 4.1 per cent margin of error.

Mr Jones has overtaken Mr Moore in JMC’s latest poll – with 46 per cent of people saying they would back him over Republican Mr Moore. It was a significant shift from its previous poll in early October.

In its analysis, JMC said Mr Moore had lost his lead particularly among men. Mr Jones appeared to have attracted more undecided voters, it said, adding that “the political climate has become less favourable for Republicans even in Alabama”.

President Donald Trump, also a Republican, has seen his own approval ratings slide in the state since winning it convincingly in the November 2016 election.

But those who did not register a view on Mr Trump’s job performance may hold the key in Alabama, JMC suggested, saying that group was more likely to favour Mr Jones.

The pollsters added: “Those who approve of President Trump support a Republican by a near-unanimous 82-11 per cent, but Moore is only favoured 76-10 per cent.

“In summary, Roy Moore has in the last month seen the race move against him.

“While the general election is still a month away, he needs to reassemble the Republican base and recognise that in the aftermath of the 7 November national elections, there is tangible evidence that Democrats are clearly more energised, and that benefits Jones.”