While Strange continues to highlight Trump’s endorsement, the president has suddenly gone quiet. The day after the primary he congratulated both Moore and Strange in a tweet and said it would be an “exciting” race. On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders wouldn’t answer a question about whether Trump would continue to support Strange, saying she couldn’t speak about politics from the podium of the White House briefing room. Observers expect him to attempt to shirk blame if Strange loses, and who would be surprised if Trump attempts to switch horses midway through the race? One Alabama Republican said the only way Strange can win is “if Air Force One touches down in Mobile and they have a 60,000-person rally.” Strange isn’t holding his breath.

The problem for Strange isn’t McConnell and his ties to party leaders in Washington. His liability is the rap he earned in becoming a U.S. senator — that of a political swamp creature — the kind that Trump voters wanted the president to vanquish.