I think he wanted Republicans to win that election, but he knows why the Democrats won in Alabama this time and he doesn't want to create the appearance of disagreement between himself and his base in states like Alabama so he's being nice in the hopes of keeping their support in the future. I imagine that's what his advisors are pushing him to do so I guess it makes sense that he didn't call them a bunch of losers or fabricate some other excuse for that loss.
Benedict Arnold 