Sessions Must Hope Tide Fans Have Long Memories

Former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville is hoping Alabama Crimson Tide fans will love President Trump more than they hate his, "Fear the Thumb" chiding of Bama faithful when his Tiger team was on a roll against the Tide in the early 2000s.

The taunt came as Tuberville's Auburn was going for their fifth straight win over UA. It raised a howl among Alabama fans on sports radio. As a coach Tubs was always one to taunt the opposition. As a candidate for the Alabama Republican U.S. Senate nomination he is doing the same to runoff foe Jeff Sessions. And Tuberville is getting some hefty support.

President Trump is still angry at Sessions for recusing himself from the Mueller investigation of Russian election meddling when he was U.S. Attorney General. In interviews and on Twitter Trump has called Sessions numerous names "slime" being the latest and possibly mildest expression of his disdain for the man who was one of his most ardent supporters.

Sessions was the first member of the senate to endorse Trump when Trump needed the momentum in 2016. But it didn't take long for Trump to develop a dislike for Sessions after the election because the Mobile native placed his legal requirements as attorney general ahead of the demands of his boss.

Trump has endorsed Tuberville for the nomination despite criticism Tubs leveled at the president earlier in the campaign. As reported by Yellowhammer News last summer during a Shoals Republican Club appearance, he  condemned the president for the status of the Veterans Administration and linked the 22 veteran suicides every day to President Donald Trump.

Reporters quoted Tuberville as saying he was, "...pissed off at Donald Trump that our vets can't get health care.". He later denied blaming Trump but rather said it was a member of the Trump administration that made him mad.

Trump's anger at Sessions has allowed him to overlook critical comments from Tuberville, criticism that would have elicited a tirade from Trump in any other situation.

The war of words is kicking up a notch this weekend as Trump and Sessions have swapped Tweets. Trump claiming, "3 years ago, after Jeff Sessions recused himself, the Fraudulent Mueller Scam began. Alabama, do not trust Jeff Sessions. He let our Country down. That’s why I endorsed Coach Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville), the true supporter of our #MAGA agenda!"

Perhaps getting tired of Trump tirades against him, Sessions responded, "@realdonaldtrump Look, I know your anger, but recusal was required by law. I did my duty & you're damn fortunate I did. It protected the rule of law & resulted in your exoneration. Your personal feelings don't dictate who Alabama picks as their senator, the people of Alabama do."

Saturday evening Trump called on Sessions to drop out of the race for Senate and “pray” that Democratic U.S. Senator Doug Jones loses in November.

Of course Tuberville couldn't resist an opportunity to taunt an opponent in his own tweet,"@JeffSessions is so desperate, he told @realDonaldTrump to thank him for the immoral & unconscionable Russia investigation! The only people who seem to agree are Democrats. Help me keep him from “helping” President Trump (and the Democrats) again here!

Sessions, for his part, still supports Trump and calls him "a great president".

Currently Tuberville has a double digit lead on Sessions in statewide polls. Alabama is a "red" states that strongly supports Trump. Question is, come runoff election day on July 14, will GOP Alabama fans remember one for the thumb?