Ever since several women stepped forward to describe Alabama Senate nominee Roy Moore’s alleged behavior toward them when they were teenagers to the Washington Post, there’s been little talk of anything else in politics. And such talk is likely to continue if Moore should win and become a U. S. Senator.

If this happens, Republicans risk having the same problem the Democrats had for decades since 1969. And that’s the equivalent of a Ted Kennedy, a man capable of repeatedly winning elections at home, while costing the party many more races in other states.

Ever since that fateful night when a woman died in the back of Kennedy’s submerged car, Democrats had that millstone wrapped around their necks. Sure, he was an effective legislator, but he did the party more harm than good.

For every Senate victory Kennedy reeled off, he likely cost the party many more seats in the House and Senate across the country. Ask Democrats from Alabama to Wyoming how many times they had the Ted Kennedy name hurled in their faces by an opponent. Being in the same photo with the guy could cost a politician his or her career in any state south of the Mason-Dixon Line. That’s because Kennedy became synonymous with politicians being above the law, not being held accountable for a terrible event. And that’s who Moore would become for the Republicans. That’s why so many Republicans in the Senate, House and gubernatorial offices are calling on Moore to step aside.

Now Moore is dropping in the polls. His double-digit lead has evaporated, trailing in a JMC Analytics polls by four points. In that JMC poll, it showed Alabama men swinging from a 16-point lead for Moore to a tie. This scandal is ticking off men who also happen to be fathers and brothers too.

But the defense mounted by several Alabama politicians and other supporters risk costing the party more than just a senate seat. There was the supporter who said it was no different than adult Joseph taking teenage Mary for a wife. Just like the Democrats selling their soul to save a Senate seat, the GOP may find that they’ll lose more than one spot in the legislature if they embrace Moore. It will be the Democrats winning offices across the country on the Moore name.

John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu. His Twitter account is JohnTures2.