We're just hours away from polls closing in Alabama for the special U.S. Senate race between Republican Roy Moore and Democrat Doug Jones.
Who's going to win? Polling is all over the map, with some surveys showing Moore leading by two and Jones leading by 10. The final Real Clear Politics average shows Moore ahead by 2.2 percent, well within the margin of error.
But if Moore pulls out a victory in the deep red state, courtesy of Alabama voters, the majority of Americans want him denied a seat in Washington D.C. and believe he should be expelled from the Senate. Overall Republicans aren't on board with the idea, but a significant number of them are.
First, from Quinnipiac:
If Roy Moore wins the U.S. Senate election in Alabama and becomes a Senator, the Senate should vote to expel him, American voters say 60 - 31 percent. Republicans oppose expelling Moore 65 - 25 percent and white men are split 46 - 45 percent. Every other party, gender, education, age and racial group says expel him.
Women say 67 - 24 percent that Moore should be expelled, and men agree 52 - 40 percent.
Voters disapprove 63 - 21 percent of President Trump's endorsement of Moore. Republicans are the only listed group to approve, by an anemic 50 - 25 percent.
And another from POLITICO/Morning Consult:
A majority of voters nationwide say Republican Roy Moore should be expelled from the Senate if he wins a seat in the chamber in Tuesday’s special election in Alabama, according to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll.
More than six-in-10 voters (61 percent) — including a plurality of Republicans — think the Senate should expel the embattled Moore, who has been accused of pursuing and molesting teenage girls while in his 30s. That includes 77 percent of Democrats, 59 percent of independents and 45 percent of Republicans.
There’s also a gender gap, especially among Republicans, on the issue of expulsion. Half of female Republicans think the Senate should expel Moore, but just 39 percent of Republican men agree.
So, will Republicans on the hill try to expel Moore? Seat him and refuse to appoint him to committees? Will they do nothing and ultimately accept the choice of Alabama voters? We'll find out tomorrow.
Senate GOP plans to hold meeting tomorrow morning to discuss next steps if ROY MOORE wins #alsen, I'm told. McConnell discussed it at lunch today
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 12, 2017