Conservative WSJ editorial sticks a fork in Steve Bannon and his 'loser' candidates

The Wall Street Journal's conservative editorial page has knives out for former top Trump political strategist Steve Bannon.

In a blistering op-ed reacting to Democrat Doug Jones' stunning victory in the Alabama Senate race, the WSJ blamed Bannon for championing Roy Moore, whose campaign was dogged by multiple allegations that he molested teenage girls when he was in his 30s.

"Bannon backed Mr. Moore in the primary, though the judge had been removed twice from the state Supreme Court for refusing to follow a legitimate court order," the editors write. "Mr. Moore was a political self-implosion guaranteed to happen."

The Journal notes that Bannon plans to run Moore-like primary challengers against multiple establishment Republicans in 2018 -- and it warns conservative voters and donors that backing these challenges will inevitably result in more devastating defeats for the GOP.

"The Alabama result shows that Mr. Bannon cares less about conservative policy victories than he does personal king-making," the editors write. "He wants to depose Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader even if it costs Republicans Senate control. GOP voters, take note: Mr. Bannon is for losers."