Several polls have indicated Moore could have the edge in the Republican primary, which will be held next Tuesday, although the president’s endorsement this week of another candidate, Luther Strange, could change that dynamic. The party’s leaders remain steadfastly opposed to Putin, and recently forced Trump to reluctantly pass new sanctions against Russia. The Russian leader has rebranded himself a traditionalist during his third term, and his clampdown against what he calls “homosexual propaganda” in schools has been met with approval among some Christians in the US. If no candidates gets 50% in next week’s primary, the Republican party’s nominee will be decided in a September runoff. “I think it was the providential hand of God.”An earlier version of this article incorrectly said the Republican primary will be held next Thursday.

Source: The Guardian August 10, 2017 18:33 UTC