McCaskill winning by the skin of her teeth in a big Dem wave hardly bodes well for Jones in a state that is far more Republican, far less elastic, far more racially polarized, and during an unknown political climate when Trump is guaranteed to carry the state by at least 20 points simultaneously.
Jones is a far stronger incumbent than McCaskill (like, not even close), has better approval numbers, and the state isn’t as "inelastic" as you’re making it out to be (or else Jones wouldn’t be Senator right now or have similar approval ratings as Richard Shelby). Bottom line: Writing off a Democratic incumbent in a red state two years before the election is never a good idea, and rating it "Safe R" is downright crazy. Hawley is hardly an Akin tier candidate, and he’s still struggling badly in this race.
I agree with MT here. If Jones wasnt popular, like CO Senator Gardner, then it would make sense to write him off. But Jones is doing really well in AL, and the Rs in the state will, most likely, not make the best choice in the primary.
I say lean R, but it could easily go to Jones.