Sen Jones of Alabama calls rival Tuberville 'Coach Clueless'

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama called his Republican challenger Tommy Tuberville “Coach Clueless” on Friday, stepping up his campaign attack on the former college football coach for his recent comments about the coronavirus.

In a live-streamed campaign event, Jones criticized Tuberville’s reaction to tapes of President Donald Trump saying in February that he knew the severity of the coronavirus. Trump said he downplayed the threat to avoid public panic. Tuberville, a former college football coach, told FOX10 said he didn’t see the report. But he later issued a statement saying the “fake news” would criticize Trump no matter what.

“My opponent, who I call Coach Clueless, indicated he doesn’t watch the news so he didn’t know anything about it, which I believe is just a way to avoid the media’s questions,” Jones said in stepping up political attacks on his rival.

Republicans are seeking with Tuberville to reclaim the Senate seat from Jones, who won a 2017 special election. A Deep South Democrat, Jones faces an uphill battle in his fight to hang onto the seat in the once-reliably red state.

A former coach at Auburn University among other college posts, Tuberville has made his support for Trump a centerpiece of his campaign. The contest is shaping up as an expensive and contentious slugfest.

But Jones said blind loyalty to any elected official is wrong.

“I think Coach Clueless’ comments really reflect the fact that he is always going to support Donald Trump, no matter what. … People will not stand up and speak out even when they know the president is wrong and should be called to account for it," Jones said.

The Tuberville campaign responded on Friday by saying it was it was highly inappropriate for Jones to...