Mitch McConnell on allegations against Roy Moore: 'I believe the women'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell today said he believes the women who have accused Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual misconduct.

Speaking at an event in his home state this morning, McConnell, R-Ky., said he thinks Moore should drop out of the race to fill the Alabama Senate seat.

When a reporter asked McConnell, "Do you believe these allegations to be true?" he responded, "I believe the women, yes.”

McConnell said they were looking into the possibility of backing a write-in campaign for a different Republican candidate, should Moore drop out — something he has said he no intention of dropping out.

The Alabama Republican Party chairwoman spoke out on Monday and pushed back against that idea for now.

"It would be a serious error for any current elected GOP official or candidate to publicly endorse another party’s candidate, an independent, a third party or a write in candidate in a general election as well," Terry Lathan told ABC News in a statement. "I have heard of no Alabama GOP elected official or candidate that is even considering this option."

Lathan cited so-called "sore-loser" rules as a way the party could keep Sen. Luther Strange or Rep. Mo Brooks, who both lost in the primary, from qualifying as an viable candidate against Moore.

"This Committee reserves the right to deny ballot access to a candidate for public office if in a prior election that person was a Republican office holder and either publicly participated in the primary election of another political party or publicly supported a nominee of another political party," Lathan said in the statement.

Moore has repeatedly denied the sexual misconduct allegations that were first reported by The Washington Post last week. The allegations date back decades, including a claim by a woman that Moore engaged in sexual activity with her when she was 14 and he was in his 30s.

Moore has since responded to McConnell, writing on Twitter that the majority leader should be the one to step down.

"The person who should step aside is @SenateMajLdr Mitch McConnell. He has failed conservatives and must be replaced. #DrainTheSwamp," Moore tweeted.

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