Senator Doug Jones Makes Campaign Stop in Huntsville

The Senator Spoke at a Drive In Rally for Historically Black Colleges and Universities

You're taking a live look at the nation's capitol.

We're just over two weeks away from the last day of voting in the general election and campaigns in alabama and across the country are making their final cases for your vote.

Thank you for joining us tonight.

I'm will robinson-smith.

Megan reyna has the evening off.

On the campaign trail this evening -- senator doug jones was in huntsville for a drive in rally supporting historically black colleges and universities at the fellowship of faith church.

Waay 31's max cohan has been at the event all evening and joins us live with more on this senate race.

Max?

Will, alabama has more h-b-c- u's than any other state -- with three here in the huntsville area alone.

Tonight, senator doug jones said it's important for those schools to know that they have someone in the senate who has their back.

At the fellowship of faith church -- cars lined up drive-in movie style for senator doug jones' rally sunday night.

Students from numerous hbcu's along with other speakers took the stage before the senator was met with honks and flashes from an excited audience.

Hbcu students like aaron wimberly -- a member of oakwood university -- say seeing jones' support means everything.

"as a black man in america, it's hard.

Every step of every day is hard for me and the fact that i have somebody in my corner who is personally supporting us, in the open instead of behind closed doors, means the world to me."

Jones -- who voted to increase hbcu funding during his first two years in the senate before attaining permanent funding in his third -- says these schools deserve recognition --- and it's important for them to know that he has their back.

"they can appreciate what can be done when folks are there that have their voice, because those colleges and universities do so much and these students contribute so much."

Just over two weeks before the election -- the race between jones and former auburn head coach tommy tuberville is heating up.

According to information sent out by tuberville's campaign sunday night -- tuberville is currently trailing the senator by one point in the polls.

An auburn university study poll showed tuberville with a 12 point lead just two weeks ago.

In a recent campaign video -- former senator and attorney general jeff sessions voiced his support for the former coach.

Alabama must send you to represent us in the senate.

We cannot allow a chuck schumer acolyte - doug jones - to represent alabama in the senate.

I mean you see it on his vote on the judges and kavanaugh and the way he's behaved about the new nominee.

This election is expected to be unlike any other and when asked today -- senator jones said he expected to see a strong turn out -- noting the current record numbers of early voters.

Live in huntsville, max cohan, waay 31 news.

Thank you, max.

As he mentioned -- this is a close race and one that has attracted national attention -- and donors from across the country for both candidates.

According to the latest filings with the federal election commission -- senator doug jones has raised about 23-point-five million in this race compared to roughly six and a half million raised by tuberville.

Analysis by the non-partisan, nonprofit center for responsive politics shows that jones' three biggest campaign contributors are: democracy engine, the university of alabama and the university of california.

Tuberville's biggest donors are club for growth; hometown lenders; and beasley, allen et al.

Both campaigns have