Jeff Sessions: Donald Trump can beat Hillary Clinton

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U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, speaks during the Aug. 21, 2015, rally in support of Donald Trump's presidential campaign at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Sharon Steinmann/steinmann@al.com).

Appearing to inch closer to an endorsement, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions told Fox Business News that Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump could beat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the general election.

Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo asked Sessions if he thought Trump, who is leading in national polls, could defeat Clinton in November.

"Well I think so," Sessions said, citing the businessman's recent victory in the Nevada caucus. "It looks like working people who may have been voting Democrat voted for Trump in huge numbers. They say, it's correct, you cannot win an election with the simple Republican base. You have to have a nominee who can reach beyond that base. Trump is reaching out to working Americans in a way others so far have not been able to do. That's the way you get over 50 percent.

"I've been talking about that for seven years," Sessions continued. "Our consultant 'geniuses' said you've got to be more moderate, you have to have more amnesty, and that's the way to win elections. I think Trump is proving that's not so."

Sessions, chair of the Senate's committee on immigration, has emerged as the leading opponent to the Obama administration's immigration policies. Trump consulted Sessions when crafting his own immigration policy and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is challenging Trump for the GOP nomination, often mentions Sessions as the conservative leader on the topic.

Sessions has yet to endorse any presidential candidate but has reiterated his support for Trump in recent interviews. Sessions indicated he was favoring either Trump or Cruz but would not endorse Marco Rubio over concerns about the Florida Senator's stances on trade or immigration.

Trump is scheduled to be in Alabama this weekend for an appearance in Huntsville.

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