1:20
Since then, Trump has periodically tweeted his support and encouragement for Strange. He appeared with him Friday at a campaign rally in Huntsville.
Strange has come under fire from his rival for the substantial advertising support he has received from the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC that has been known to support Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Politico reported that Steven Law, the PAC's president, said, “While he doesn't direct what we do, McConnell has made it very clear that Luther's race is his number one political priority right now.”
According to Politico, the fund had spent $3.5 million on the race as of late July, including an ad tying then-rival Rep. Mo Brooks to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
During the GOP debate, held last Thursday without a moderator, Strange was also attacked for how he became a United States senator. When he was tapped by Bentley for the Senate seat, Strange was the very man leading the investigation into the Alabama governor's misconduct, which raised questions about the appropriateness of the appointment.
Roy Moore previously served as the chief justice for the Alabama Supreme Court, but was suspended in November 2003 for refusing federal court orders to take down a Ten Commandments monument from the Alabama Judicial Building.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/roy-moore-nc-ml-170809_4x3t_384.jpg\")
He was reelected to the position in 2013 but was again removed in May 2016 for ordering other judges not to issue same-sex marriage licenses, although the state’s ban on the matter had been overturned. He announced his Senate bid in late April.
Moore was endorsed by actor Chuck Norris, who said, \"Judge Roy Moore is the real deal. The Washington establishment knows they won’t be able to count on him, but Alabama voters can...That’s why the Washington establishment is spending millions trying to defeat Judge Moore.\"
Moore's other notable endorsements include several Trump supporters such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former White House strategist Steve Bannon and Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson.
Moore has released advertisements highly critical of Republicans in Washington including McConnell, Sens. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
\"Send them all a message,\" one ad says, calling out the majority leader's \"D.C. slime machine.\"
Recently, Moore has come under fire for appearing to refer to Native Americans and Asians as \"reds\" and \"yellows\" in a campaign speech.
Last night at a campaign rally, Moore pulled a gun out of his pocket as he said that, counter to his competitors' claims, he is a supporter of the Second Amendment.
At a time when the president’s support within his own party wavers, the Alabama special election could reflect how much influence Trump has had in the first year of his presidency.
Political science experts say the outcome could be symbolic of voters' current view on Trump.
Cynthia Bowling, chair of the political science department at Auburn University, told ABC News this summer that \"if there is ever going to be an election that would signify a movement away from Trump, it would be an election where Trump's ratings are really low,\" and in a solid Republican state, like Alabama.
According to Richard Fording, a professor of political science at the University of Alabama, this election \"will continue to be influenced by Trump\" and that \"it will flat out be a referendum on his performance as president.\"
The race has further significance for Republicans; a loss could potentially shift Republicans' tenuous authority in the Senate. The GOP currently holds 52 seats in the Senate, while Democrats hold 48 and two independents caucus with the Democrats.
An upset win in the December 12 general election for Democrat and former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones, who won his party's primary in August, would be a significant gain for Democrats and make it even more difficult for Republicans to pass tightly contested legislation, such as on health care reform.
ABC News' John Verhovek contributed to this report.
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