President Trump phoned Alabama Senate victor Doug Jones – and even invited him to the White House – while his rival, Republican Roy Moore, still refuses to concede.
In a press conference in Birmingham Wednesday afternoon, Jones listed the lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, who called him, which led to the obvious questions, had he heard from Moore?
‘I have not,’ Jones replied. ‘I’m going to leave that to him,’ the Democratic senator-elect answered when asked by a reporter if Moore should concede.
Alabama senator-elect Doug Jones revealed at a press conference Wednesday that President Trump had called him and offered him congratulations
Doug Jones’ revelation comes as his Republican rival in the race, Roy Moore, has refused to concede – not being seen in public today
Democrat Doug Jones was asked if he heard from Roy Moore since the race has been called. ‘I have not,’ he told reporters
Doug Jones, answering questions from reporters in Birmingham today, revealed that President Trump had extended a White House invitation to him
Doug Jones named a number of lawmakers who reached out to him today, both Democratic and Republican, but said he still hadn’t received a phone call from Roy Moore
Election night in Alabama provided a dramatic conclusion to what was already a topsy-turvy campaign.
Jones shocked the political world by winning, being the first Democrat to do so since 1986.
But then Moore pulled the political version of ‘hold my beer’ by getting onstage at his Montgomery rally and refusing to drop out.
‘Realize when the vote is this close, then it’s not over,’ Moore told the crowd. ‘And we’ve still got to go by the rules about this recount provision.’
With that, Moore urged his supporters, stunned by the Republican’s loss to, ‘go home and sleep on it.’
Now, a day later, Moore’s next move is unknown.
Three emails to Moore’s spokeswoman have gone unreturned and a campaign official DailyMail.com reached by phone said he didn’t know Moore’s plans.
Senator-elect Doug Jones (right) waves to reporters as he and his wife Louise (left) leave a news conference in Birmingham, Alabama on Wednesday
A source in Alabama’s secretary of state’s office told DailyMail.com that beyond an initial conversation staffers had with both teams, prompted by media interest, Moore’s campaign hadn’t been back in touch about a recount today.
The GOP candidate hasn’t been seen publicly today.
Meanwhile, the political world has started to move on, as evidenced by the parade of people calling Jones today.
‘I have received calls from so many well-wishers, of friends and families, but also future colleagues in Washington on both sides of the aisle,’ Jones said. ‘I’ve received calls from Democratic senators, I’ve received calls from my long-time friend Senator Shelby, Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer.’
‘And calls from the president of the United States, President Trump,’ he added.
The senator-elect called his conversation with the president a ‘very gracious call,’ also ‘pleasant’ and ‘nice’ that Jones ‘much appreciated.’
‘He congratulated me on the race that we won, he congratulated me and my staff on the manner in which we handled this campaign and went forward and we talked about finding that common ground, to work together,’ Jones said.
‘And he invited me over to the White House to visit just as soon as I get up there,’ Jones revealed.