this is "nightline." >> tonight, all eyes on alabama. >> this election is for the people of alabama. >> as the senate candidates face off in one of the most heated special elections in history. ? republicans switching sides in the face of roy moore's sexual misconduct allegations. >> i hold my party to higher standards than roy moore. >> others just don't believe it. >> everyone is innocent until proven guilty. >> the political battle for the heart of dixie. plus, terror in new york. the chilling attack in one of the largest commuter hubs in manhattan during rush hour. an alleged isis sympathizer inspired by online propaganda partially detonating a home-made bomb but failing to cause major damage. what we now know about the

suspect and the brave first responders who raced to the scene. but first, the nightline 5. scene. but first, the nightline 5. number one in just 60 seconds.

♪ good evening. thanks for joining us. the political world is on pins and needles tonight on the eve of the crucial alabama senate

election, with deep red state voters having to choose between a man accused of sexual misconduct and a democrat whose positions are far less popular. president trump has already thrown his support behind embattled gop candidate roy moore. but some republicans fear theirs is a party divided. the battle for the heart and soul of the republican party hanging on an empty senate seat in alabama. >> so get out and vote for roy moore. >> reporter: republican roy moore facing off with democrat doug jones. both parties fighting for voting, sending in big-time reinforcements. tonight former white house strategist steve bannon rallying the moore faithful. >> they're trying to shut up president trump and judge moore. they're trying to shut you up. >> reporter: former president obama making a last-minute robocall plea for jones. and president trump doubling down on moore. >> hi, this is president donald trump and i need alabama to go vote for roy moore.

>> reporter: the stakes have never been higher. effective control of the senate hangs in the balance. after jeff sessions vacated his seat to become attorney general. >> if roy moore loses, which is a big if, the democrats obviously get another seat in a very, very closely divided senate. >> reporter: a victory for jones depends on suburbs like this one outside birmingham. it's become an unlikely battleground with an even more unlikely band of supporters for the democrat. >> we consider ourselves republicans for doug jones. >> reporter: this group of lifelong christian conservative republicans -- >> how are you? i'm kim. >> hi, kim. >> hello there. >> what's your name? >> that's will. >> what's up, will? >> reporter: -- says moore should not be the poster boy for the gop. >> i just feel like i know i cannot support roy moore. >> reporter: today they're out knocking on doors hoping to convince fellow republicans to consider voting against their party's candidate. >> it's because i'm a christian and it's actually because i'm

republican and those morals are so deep that i'm voting against roy moore. does that change anything for you? >> it doesn't. there are things i don't like about him, but the way i see this country going and lowering taxes, i think he's a better fit. even if some of it may be true and it comes out, he could be replaced by somebody else who may better serve as well. >> but still at issue, the republican candidate stands accused of sexual misconduct by nine women, many of whom say they were underage at the time. >> mr. moore reached over and began groping me. him putting his hands on my breasts. >> he just grabbed me from behind on my buttocks. and he just squeezed it really hard. and i remember thinking i was so ashamed. i felt humiliated. >> reporter: moore has denied these allegations, and for? voters that's enough. suzie leckness has been volunteering with door knockers for the moore campaign. >> but these are allegations. and in america i believe it still holds true that everyone

is innocent until proven guilty. >> reporter: kevin cavanaugh came all the way from arizona to show his support for the republican candidate. >> i'm going to give roy moore the benefit of the doubt. he has been solid for his entire political career, and nothing has popped up, there's nothing recent. so i have a hard time believing these allegations. >> reporter: but those allegations have left other staunch republicans deeply troubled. >> i think those women are the most courageous women on the planet. and i'm so proud of them. i do believe them. >> reporter: kim dowdle is a trump supporter and says she's never voted for a democrat, ever. but this time, she says, is different. >> for me to not vote for roy moore for the republican party is huge. i'm a survivor of rape. and it's not easy for women to talk about that. >> reporter: joining her, steve cranish. he's a lifelong conservative who says he started a facebook page to support the democrat because he finds roy moore offensive.

>> he's offended african-americans. he's offended the lgbt community. he's offended women. he's offended everybody. >> reporter: tracy james comes from a long line of distinguished republican leaders in alabama. >> my late father was a highly respected republican judge. my cousin was a gop governor of this state. >> reporter: but now she's featured in a campaign ad for the democratic candidate. >> certainly i've had people say that i'm disloyal, that i'm a traitor. i would argue that i am being loyal to the party, that i am being loyal at its most courageous by saying i hold my party to higher standards than roy moore. >> reporter: it's blowback this group says they're willing to endure because they feel the whole world is watching and that alabama's reputation is on the line. >> if the republican party becomes -- adopts the image of people like roy moore, then the swing voters are going to shift. and i think we're going to lose -- the republicans are going to lose the senate, the house, and i think ultimately the presidency.

>> reporter: all this playing out in a state that has tried to overcome its dark history. like in 1963 when then governor george wallace defied federal orders to desegregate alabama schools. >> and i say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever. >> reporter: michael says roy moore's rhetoric harkens back that age. >> i had to make the decision, are we going back or not? and it really was no decision. we can't go back. >> reporter: which is why he came up with this slogan. >> you didn't have to want to vote for doug jones to take the sign. it was a vote for republicans and democrats to say, hey, no more. we're not going to have this anymore here. >> reporter: the rnc sensing control of the senate is hanging in the balance is calling for republican support on capitol hill. but even the highest-ranking republican in the senate has questioned whether moore deserves a place in their party. >> he's obviously not fit to be in the united states senate.

>> reporter: and the senior republican senator from alabama telling cnn his home state can do better. >> i didn't vote for roy moore. i wouldn't vote for roy moore. i think the republican party can do better. >> wow! >> a democrat hasn't won an alabama senate seat in 25 years. >> they're not in the practice of voting for democrats. and roy moore and his campaign have effectively said this is about party, not about person, and to the degree that people think it's more important to elect a republican than it is to worry about the accusations against him, he's doing well. >> i feel great. i feel great. this has been an exciting race. >> reporter: since a quarter of alabama's population is african-american, the jones campaign is trying to get out the black vote, all with the help of prominent african-american leaders.

>> it's an incredible state. and this is your chance to let the world know that, to come together, to get out there, to vote, to let your voice be heard. >> reporter: doug jones highlighting his sill rights credentials. his prosecution of two members of the kkk who were responsible for the 1963 birmingham church bombing that killed four black girls. his opponent, moore, is a gun-toting -- >> i believe in the second amendment. >> reporter: -- horse-riding conservative. he made headlines when he installed this giant statue of the ten commandments in the rotunda of the alabama state supreme courthouse. >> i have acknowledged god as the moral foundation of our law. it's my duty. >> reporter: it was a decision federal courts found unconstitutional and ordered moore to take it down. >> we've allowed the acknowledgment of god to be taken from us because three lawyers walked in this building and are offended at looking at god's word. >> reporter: in 2011 moore appeared on an ultra-conservative radio talk

show where one of the hosts suggested voiding all of the amendments after the 10th. >> that would eliminate many problems. you know, people don't understand how some of these amendments have completely tried to wreck the form of government that our forefathers intended. >> reporter: but such a suggestion would mean getting rid of the amendment that abolished slavery and the one that granted women the right to vote, among others. moore was later re-elected in the state supreme court where he defied the federal courts again, this time on the issue of same-sex marriage. he views homosexuality as sinful. >> it is immoral. it is defined by the law as detestable. >> reporter: but after an avalanche of sexual assault allegations moore faces what may be the last straw for some voters. >> you're not going to vote tuesday. >> and i've always voted. i don't miss elections, but i'm not voting. >> reporter: all this playing out against the backdrop of a national reckoning on the issue of sexual harassment. >> i had somebody actually say to me i'm not about to vote for the party of franken and conyers. and my response was oh, sow must

have a great write-in candidate because if you are not -- if you believe their accusers you must believe moore's accusers. and his response was, oh, no, but franken admitted it and moore has denied it. >> now, it's up to alabama voters to decide who will best represent them as well as perhaps the future of the republican party. up next, the attempted terror attack at rush hour in new york city. how the suspect constructed a bomb from internet instructions. the tissue test? yep, and my teeth are yellow. i mean i knew they weren't perfect, but, ugh. oh well, all hope is lost! oh thanks! clearly my whitening toothpaste is not cutting it. time for whitestrips. crest glamorous white whitestrips are the only ada-accepted whitening strips proven to be safe and effective. they work below the enamel surface to whiten 25x better than a leading whitening toothpaste. hey, nice smile! thanks! i crushed the tissue test!

yeah you did! crest. healthy, beautiful smiles for life. touch is how we communicate with those we love, but when your psoriasis is bad, does it ever get in the way? embrace the chance of 100% clear skin with taltz. taltz is proven to help people with moderate to severe psoriasis achieve completely clear skin. with taltz, up to 90% of patients had a significant improvement of their psoriasis plaques. in fact, 4 out of 10 even achieved completely clear skin. don't use if you're allergic to taltz. before starting, you should be checked for tuberculosis. taltz may increase risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. tell your doctor if you have an infection or have symptoms, or if you've received a vaccine or plan to. inflammatory bowel disease can happen with taltz, including worsening of symptoms. serious allergic reactions can occur. ready for a chance at 100% clear skin? ask your doctor about taltz today. and go to taltz.com to learn how to pay as little as $5 a month.

pain from a headache whcan make this...ld, ...feel like this. all-in-one cold symptom relief from tylenol®, the #1 doctor recommended pain relief brand. tylenol®.

i'm worried. i have this medical bill...oll, huh? dave, you have anthem and they have people to talk to who are empowered to help any question you... is, is he okay? real people? living and breathing. hopefully not breathing like that. for all the things that keep you up at night, anthem blue cross has a solution.

a second terror attack in new york city in less than two months. this time authorities say an isis supporter attempted an apparent suicide bombing. tonight we're learning new details about the suspect, how he constructed the device and what he told police after his capture. here's abc's gio benitez. >> i smelled smoke, and i got out of there. >> the subway they're evacuating at this time. >> reporter: this morning terror again rocked the streets of new york city. >> this was an attempted terrorist attack. >> reporter: officials say this was the moment the alleged attacker partially detonated a pipe bomb strapped to his body, targeting the port authority bus terminal and filling parts of the complex with smoke, sending commuters scrambling to safety. five were injured. >> the investigation at the scene indicates this male was wearing an improvised low-tech explosive device attached to his body. he intentionally detonated that device.

>> reporter: the suspect, 27-year-old akayed ullah of brooklyn, a bangladeshi immigrant who came to this country on a family visa. authorities say ullah boarded the subway in brooklyn bound for times square. just before 7:20 a.m. he arrives at the 42nd street station. surveillance video captures ullah walk through the subway passageway during the bustling rush hour commute. >> he's the guy in the hoodie. >> just a few seconds later an explosion. >> police were all behind them saying everybody out of the building, everybody out of the building. >> to me it sounded like a gunshot, like a shotgun or something. >> once i saw that smoke, i just headed to the closet exit. >> reporter: christina bethea was on her way to work. what's going through your mind right now as all of this is going on? this is where you work. >> like i said, i believe in god and that's all what matters.

if i didn't believe in god i believe in god today. >> reporter: four port authority police officers were on parole inside the terminal when they raced to the scene. >> they made a split-second decision to get on top of him and restrain him and one of the officers actually removed the device off of his person before he could further detonate it. >> reporter: the bomb was built from a pipe about 12 inches in length rigged with a nine volt battery and a wire that came from a christmas light. >> we know that they have been used as detonators in many many instances. many, in fact, have used those either to detonate the bomb or used them at another location he had in mind. >> reporter: commuters quickly evacuated. the nypd outfitted with assault rifles locking down the scene checking for other possible devices. >> you have to assume he was going to a much more crowded area to -- you know, to make a statement. you also have to ai'm was trying to kill himself, he was going to be a suicide bomber. what happened is the bomb did

not fully detonate and that's why he's still alive. >> reporter: in brooklyn the nypd and fbi searching three different homes in the area thought to be connected to the suspect. his family inside, neighbors stunned. >> you never know who your neighbors are. you've just got to be careful. >> he doesn't talk much to anybody. kept to himself. >> reporter: suffering injuries to his arms and torso, ullah was taken to the hospital. according to sources, he made the bomb in his brooklyn apartment. authorities say ullah told them he used instructions found online. >> this was a somewhat unsophisticated explosive device. it doesn't appear that it functioned correctly or was designed correctly. if it would have operated correctly, we wouldn't be just dealing with a few injuries. we'd be dealing with many fatalities and many injuries. >> reporter: authorities also say ullah claims he was inspired by isis and al qaeda propaganda, which mentioned times square as a possible target. >> i can tell you tonight

there's real concern going forward about the potential for copycats. right now there are 1,000 fbi isis-related investigations ongoing in the country. but what is concerning tonight is this young man was not on anyone's radar. >> reporter: just a few weeks ago isis released this image of santa standing next to a box of dynamite. isis uses videos like these to encourage people to commit atrocities around the world. >> what isis and al qaeda have turned to is a message of go to these soft targets, use a car, use a knife, use an explosive device, use a firearm, and kill as many people as you can. a soft target is a location that is generally open to the public, a mass transit station. by its very nature it has to be open. >> reporter: this morning's attack comes just six weeks after saipov of uzbekistan drove a rental truck down a bike path in manhattan in a rampage that

killed eight people and injured more. the attacker was charged with 22 counts including eight counts of murder and one count of providing support for isis. he pled not guilty and could face the debt penalty. and late last year more than two dozen were injured in the city's chelsea neighborhood after a pressure cooker packed with shrapnel detonated. today an increased police presence across the city. >> the reality is that we are a target by many who would like to make a statement against democracy, against freedom. we have the statue of liberty in our harbor. and that makes us an international target. >> reporter: as the authorities remain on high alert governor cuomo encouraging new yorkers to continue on with their everyday lives. >> we're not going to allow them to disrupt us. that's exactly what they want. and that is exactly what they're not going to get. >> reporter: for "nightline" i'm gio benitez in new york. >> our thanks to gio. we'll be right back. s nightline brought

to you by nissan. new ultimate surf & turf event. and that means five mouthwatering pairings to choose from. like our new feast with lobster-wrapped scallops and a juicy steak.

or a new lobster and seafood-topped filet. tempted? better hurry in, it ends soon. and roomba from irobot gets to work using two multi-surface brushes and power-lifting suction to grab and remove everything from fine dust to large debris. daily dirt doesn't stand a chance. you and roomba from irobot. better together.

how's it going down there? that's good. lica misses you. i'm over it though. (laughter) that's fine. i miss her more than you anyway. ♪ ♪ hey, my window is closing.

yeah that's okay. alright miles. i love you. (phone hangs up) ♪ ♪ yeah i love you too. ♪ ♪

♪i am beautiful in every single way♪ ♪words, can't bring me down♪

and now to the women ruling a galaxy far, far away. excitement is high for "star wars: the last jedi." abc's nick watt got an early sneak peek. >> kill it. >> "star wars" is back, but not quite as we know it. >> i'm not the protagonist anymore. rey is the protagonist. >> show me my place in all this. >> we first met her in "the force awakens." >> what's nice is now she's asking these questions. because in the first one it's everyone else putting this stuff on her. >> reporter: laura dern, a purple-haired resistance laefea, is formidable. >> you're creating character and improvising. it all seems the same until someone taps you on the shoulder and it's chewbacca and they hug you. >> reporter: gwendolyn christie back as captain fazma. >> i'm so proud of you. >> reporter: kelly marie tren brand new as rose. >> i don't think she is like anyone else that we've seen

before. >> i'm luke skywalker, i'm here to rescue you. >> reporter: and it's now 40 years since "a new hope." >> ben kenobi? where is he? >> reporter: carrie fisher then, carrie fisher now. she finished filming "the last jedi" before she passed a year ago. and you'll notice how far the "star wars" universe has come. i'm nick watt for "nightline" in los angeles. >> and may the force be with you. thanks for watching abc news. and as always, we are online at abcnews.com and our "nightline"

whoa! the mercedes-benz winter event is back and you won't want to stop for anything else. [ barks ] ho! lease the gla 250 for $349 a month at your local mercedes-benz dealer. mercedes-benz. the best or nothing.