McConnell will need everything to break his way to come out on top. Moore is leading in the polls and McConnell currently lacks the votes to repeal Obamacare.

McConnell could have sat back and let Strange fend for himself against Moore in the race to replace former Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.). Likewise, the GOP leader could have snuffed out the Graham-Cassidy repeal bill weeks ago, rather than expose himself to another embarrassing defeat. It would have been defensible for him to announce that Republicans were moving on to tax reform — safer ground for a party in dire need of a legislative win…

Another defeat would be doubly humiliating. But McConnell may figure he has nothing left to lose. He’s already taken a huge political hit for failing to repeal Obamacare. And Republicans say privately that if McConnell didn’t take one final stab, he’d be lashed by Trump for giving up.