Roy Moore turns recount into religious crusade: 'Immorality sweeps over the land'

A day after losing the Senate race in Alabama to Democrat Doug Jones, Roy Moore has issued a new statement refusing to concede the election. But it wasn't your typical post-election statement.

It was a four-minute fire-and-brimstone video about abortion, same-sex marriage, school prayer, sodomy, and "the right of a man to claim to be a woman and vice versa."

"We are indeed in a struggle to preserve our republic, our civilization and our religion and to set free a suffering humanity," Moore said. "Today, we no longer recognize the universal truth that God is the author of our life and liberty. Abortion, sodomy and materialism have taken the place of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

In the video issued by the campaign Wednesday evening, Moore said his campaign is still waiting for the official vote count from Alabama officials. The Republican candidate framed the election as not just a political contest but also a dire ideological battle for "the heart and soul of our country."

"In this race," he said, "we have not received the final count to include military and provisional ballots," he said. "This has been a very close race, and we are awaiting certification by the secretary of state."

On Tuesday, Alabama voters elected Jones with 50 percent of the vote to Moore's 48 percent in a special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The margin between the final votes was larger than the required 0.5 percent for an automatic recount in Alabama. Moore was widely expected to win the race – a Democrat hasn't held a U.S. Senate seat for Alabama in 25 years – until allegations of sexual misconduct emerged in reports from The Washington Post.

"We have stopped prayer in our schools," Moore said in his statement. "We have killed over 60 million of our unborn children. We have redefined marriage and destroyed the basis of family, which is the building block of our country. Our borders are not secure. Our economy is faltering under an enormous national debt. We have a huge drug problem. We have even begun to recognize the right of a man to claim to be a woman, and vice versa. We have allowed Judges and justices to rule over our Constitution, and we have become slaves to their tyranny. Immorality sweeps over our land."

Moore briefly nodded to the allegations of sexual misconduct – allegations he has denied – in his message to supporters. "Even our political process has been affected with baseless and false allegations, which have become more relevant than the issues which affect our country," Moore said. "This election was tainted by over $50 million dollars from outside groups who want to retain power and their corrupt ideology."

The Republican defeat in a deep red state was seen in part as a loss for President Donald Trump, who, after backing Moore's primary opponent, put his support behind the former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice. Moore, backed by close Trump ally Steve Bannon, said in his statement that Trump's election opened "a window of hope and an opportunity that we could return to our founding principals."