(Eds: Updating with more inputs and background)By Lalit K JhaWashington, Dec 13 (PTI) Doug Jones today scriptedhistory to become the first Democrat in 25 years to win aSenate seat from Alabama, defeating President Donald Trump-backed Republican candidate Roy Moore, whose campaign wasmarred by allegations that he had sexually abused teenagers.
Moore's defeat marks a major political blow to Trump, whoendorsed the Alabama Republican and held a rally on hisbehalf. Although most national Republicans distancedthemselves from Moore following the allegations against him,Trump reaffirmed his support to the firebrand conservativethrough tweets and public statements.
With all counties reporting, the Alabama Secretary ofState John Merrill reported Jones with 49.92 per cent of thevote, and Moore with 48.38 per cent of the vote.
"Thank You Alabama!" Jones, 63, tweeted.
But Moore has so far refused to concede.
"When the vote is this close ... it's not over," the 70-year-old told supporters after Jones declared victory in aspecial election.
The margin of victory is well above the half a percentagepoint which would have triggered a recount.
This is for the first time in a quarter century that aDemocrat has won a Senate seat in the Republican stronghold ofAlabama.
The unexpected victory of Jones also narrowed theRepublican majority in the 100-member Senate to 51-49. Theresult could also become a factor in upcoming legislativebattles, as Republicans will have one less vote in thenarrowly divided Senate in 2018, US media reports said.
During the brutal campaign, Moore faced allegations thathe had molested or pursued relationships with teenage girls inthe 1970s when he was in his 30s and an assistant districtattorney.
Trump congratulated Jones for his "hard fought" victory.
"Congratulations to Doug Jones on a hard-fought victory,"Trump tweeted.
"The write-in votes played a very big factor, but a winis a win," Trump said in his first reaction.
"The people of Alabama are great, and the Republicanswill have another shot at this seat in a very short period oftime. It never ends!" tweeted the US President.
The Washington Post noted that Moore's defeat showcasedvoter backlash to sexual misconduct allegations and the limitsof President Trump's political influence.
Jones's victory in a part of the Deep South that has notelected a Democratic senator since 1992 was a dramaticrepudiation of his opponent, Moore, a former state judge twiceremoved from office, the paper said.
"Democrats pull off an upset in Alabama," The New YorkTimes said as it declared victory for Jones. It described thevictory of Jones as a rare Democratic victory in a staunchlyRepublican state.
"The race captivated the nation, not only for its debatesover party loyalty and morality, but also for its also immenseimplications for both parties and the Trump presidency," thepaper said.
The stunning win by Jones in one of the nation's mostconservative states raised questions not just about Trump'spolitical acumen but also over whether his remarkable run, inwhich he crushed convention and defied political gravity, isbeginning, finally, to run out of steam, CNN commented.
With this victory, Jones, a former US attorney, hasbecome the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Alabamasince 1992.
"Doug Jones will be an outstanding Senator who willrepresent Alabama well. He was a great candidate and will bean even better Senator," Senate Minority Leader Senator ChuckSchumer said.
Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said Jones'win was a massive victory for the country.
"In a sharp rebuke of Donald Trump, Steve Bannon andtheir anti-American, hate-filled agenda, voters in Alabamablocked a paedophile bigot from serving in the US Senate.
TonightÂ’s victory is a testament to the power of organisingand mobilising," Jayapal said.
Allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore drewnational attention to the special election. The claims againstMoore came amid a wave of allegations of sexual misconductagainst several prominent men in the world of politics,entertainment and media. PTI LKJ NSA AKJAKJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
