Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote GOP senator to try to reverse requirement that Pentagon remove Confederate names from bases No, ‘blue states’ do not bail out ‘red states’ MORE (R-Ky.) signaled on Thursday that he and his allies will actively work to oppose Roy MooreRoy Stewart MooreSessions goes after Tuberville’s coaching record in challenging him to debate The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip Sessions fires back at Trump over recusal: ‘I did my duty & you’re damn fortunate I did” MORE’s bid for Alabama’s Senate seat after the conservative firebrand announced he was jumping into the race. “We’ll be opposing Roy Moore vigorously,” McConnell told reporters after returning to the Capitol after a White House briefing on Iran. McConnell’s comments come after he warned, during an interview with the Associated Press shortly before Moore announced his bid, that he would “oppose him in every way.” Moore announced on Thursday afternoon that he would launch a bid for Alabama’s Senate seat after previously winning the party’s nomination in 2017, only to lose to now-Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) in a contentious special election. His candidacy is a national nightmare for Republicans. They blame him for losing what they view as a safe GOP seat in a deeply red state that President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE won easily in 2016. Moore lost the race after facing multiple accusations of pursuing sexual and romantic relationships with teenage girls decades ago when he was in his 30s; he has denied any wrongdoing. National outside groups allied with McConnell had previously indicated they were leaving the door open to working to make sure Moore doesn’t win the party’s nomination for a second time. McConnell’s comments mark the clearest indication that national Republicans intend to try to stop any potential momentum for Moore. Jack Pandol, a spokesman for the McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund, said Moore winning the GOP nomination “would be gift wrapping” the Senate seat for Democrats. “We believe most Alabama Republicans realize that nominating Roy Moore would be gift wrapping this Senate seat for Chuck SchumerChuck SchumerOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Schumer requests briefing with White House coronavirus task force as cases rise Schumer on Trump’s tweet about 75-year-old protester: He ‘should go back to hiding in the bunker’ MORE. It remains to be seen whether Moore can escape his baggage without his candidacy collapsing under its own weight,” he added in a statement. Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyHouse pushes back schedule to pass spending bills Top Republican says Trump greenlit budget fix for VA health care GOP senators not tested for coronavirus before lunch with Trump MORE (R-Ala.), who is close with McConnell, said on Thursday that Alabama “can do better” than Moore, who he warned wouldn’t be “good” for the Republican Party. “I don’t think it would help the president. I don’t think it would help anybody running. He would … take a lot of oxygen out of there,” Shelby said. Asked if he thought GOP groups should actively campaign against Moore, he added: “I think a lot of them will.” Moore ran against the national GOP establishment during his 2017 Senate bid, and argued on Thursday that they will try to “smear” him. “Why is there such a fear, such an anger to somebody running?” Moore said. “The mere mention of my name causes people to get up and arms in D.C.” Rebecca Kheel contributed. Updated at 6:04 p.m. Click Here: New Zealand rugby store