But such is the state of politics in Alabama that Moore’s postmodern facsimile of a campaign, with few staff, barely any physical presence, and an out-of-sight candidate, could very well be enough to win on Tuesday. In fact, it could actually benefit him.

“I think they’re counting on their media to carry the day, and feeling like anything they do at this point ‘the liberal media’ will use against him,” David Mowery, an Alabama political consultant who ran Bob Vance’s campaign against Moore in 2012, said in an email.

The Alabama-based Republican consultant Lance Hyche said that Moore’s disappearance from the trail means his campaign “obviously feels like they’re doing well,” and speculated that “maybe his camp feels like he can only get himself into trouble” by sending him out to face public scrutiny.