Trump owns the results of Alabama’s special election

And on paper, it should be a pretty easy race to win. His first major political effort since taking office, Trump has gone all out for Strange in a state he carried by double digits. Popular down south, the president has willingly put his name on the ballot.

Already, it’s obvious that won’t be enough to clinch it today. If the polling is correct (and that’s if) disbarred Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore will win first place while it’s something of a toss-up between Strange and Rep. Mo Brooks for the silver medal. The top two finishers will go to a September runoff, assuming nobody gets 50 percent.

By nature, the polling is unreliable. With small samples ahead of a special election, projections have varied between a runaway for Strange in second place and neck-and-neck contest with Brooks. As the incumbent, Strange clearly has the edge, though Trump’s endorsement hasn’t pushed him ahead yet.

Brooks has kept his hopes alive by stoking anti-establishment sentiment among voters. Riding on the support of populist firebrands like Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, and Mark Levin, there’s still an outside chance Brooks can come from behind.

To keep that from happening, Strange clung to the president in a “Fox & Friends” interview this morning, a broadcast Trump plugged earlier this morning on Twitter.

“I predict President Trump’s endorsement will be incredibly important because people want his agenda passed,” Strange said. “I want his agenda passed. He has given me his endorsement and full support. I think that will make a difference today.”

Should Strange win second, Trump will no doubt take credit. But if on the outside chance it doesn’t, if Strange and the Trump machine sputter and stall, the president will own the loss completely.

Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.