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Young bemoans the decline of the "Western Christian empire," forecasts "the end of this nation as we know it" and warns voters that the Supreme Court's rulings in favor of gay marriage are "ripping apart the moral fabric of America." A Young campaign flyer claims that Byrne favors the theory of evolution and questions the doctrine of biblical inerrancy. (Byrne says he supports teaching creationism in schools and believes "every single word" of the Bible.)
In an off-year special election, as few as 50,000 Alabamans may turn out to vote in the Nov. 5 runoff. The victor is expected to win in a cakewalk over Democrat Burton LeFlore in the general election six weeks later. But before they go to the polls, voters across the district will be getting a piece of direct mail from the U.S. chamber labeling Byrne the "conservative leader we can trust to take on Nancy Pelosi and the liberals in Washington."
Young can't do anything about that, but he is clear about the stakes. "This," he says, "is a fight for the soul of the Republican Party."