Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama is a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump's proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall — so much so that he is making that issue a centerpiece of his upcoming campaign to join the Senate.
Brooks started with Trump's famous campaign kickoff speech line: "when Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best," adding, "President Trump promised a wall to keep us safe and to protect American jobs for American workers."
However, as Brooks solemnly intoned, many Democrats and "establishment Republicans" are trying to thwart Trump's wall-building efforts. His solution? Elect him to the Senate, of course!
After threatening to filibuster every Senate bill that doesn't include provisions for funding a border wall, Brooks declares: "We’re going to build that wall, or you’ll know the name of every Republican who surrenders to the Democrats to break my filibuster. I give you my word, and I don’t give my word lightly."
Brooks' ad may remind political followers of another Republican who ran against a primary challenger by appealing to people who want a wall: John McCain's 2010 ad, "Complete the danged fence."
The Alabama race is boiling down to a referendum over Trump, according to a report by The New York Times. Sen. Luther Strange is running against Brooks in the primary, accusing Brooks of being critical of Trump. Strange resurrected an old insult that Brooks used against the president: a "serial adulterer."
Brooks is responding by attacking Strange for being too moderate on certain issues and positioning himself as being more closely aligned with Trump on key issues. He has also drawn attention to the fact that Strange was appointed by former Gov. Robert Bentley, who had to resign in disgrace amidst a sex and abuse of power scandal.
Trump has so far refused to endorse a candidate, although Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made it clear that he prefers Strange over Brooks.
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