Polling expert: Trump's drop in popularity in AL means "the resistance is onto something"

But it should not be. Alabama is one of the reddest states in the country, with almost double the number of registered Republicans as Democrats.

And Donald Trump did his absolute utmost to bring the race home for GOP candidate and accused child molester Roy Moore — yet Democratic candidate Doug Jones is holding his own.

ABC News Political Director Rick Klein broke down what it means:

.@rickklein says Pres. Trump's approval rating in preliminary exit poll results is "high by national standards, but not by Alabama standards…This tells me the resistance is on to something." https://t.co/MosG6vyEQA pic.twitter.com/JQ1QUl3hsm

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) December 13, 2017

KLEIN: On the question of Trump’s favorability, now, this is a state, Alabama, he won 62 to 34 a year ago. He has a 47 percent approval rating in the state, 48 percent disapproval. High by national standards, but not by Alabama standards. And his strong approval is only at 32 percent, whereas, whereas his strong disapproval, at 40 percent. This tells me that the resistance is on to something. They are out there, battling, and it becomes a fight for the resistance, a test for them, and also for that Trump base. Are they as motivated, are they as engaged on behalf of a deeply flawed candidate who has run the Trump playbook in Alabama. Do they show up in the same kind of numbers? It is looking like a race that’s on the closer side tonight.

Of course, Moore is incredibly toxic even among Republicans. But Trump remains popular in Alabama, and should have been able to influence this race.

As Klein says, the fact he has not is a testament to the relentless work of the resistance on the ground in Alabama, mobilizing voters.

If the resistance is capable of making a Senate race in Alabama competitive, it is capable of doing anything.