WATCH: Bob Corker Has a Hard Time Saying Nice Things About GOP Candidate to Replace Him
Retiring Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee says he is supporting the Republican nominee to replace him, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, but calls her Democratic opponent Gov. Phil Bredesen his “friend” and says he will not campaign against him #CNNSOTU https://t.co/K7mc898yO1
— CNN (@CNN) April 22, 2018
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) had a tough time explaining his outspoken praise of Democrat Phil Bredesen, who is running to fill his seat once his term ends.
“I’ve sent the maximum contribution to the Republican nominee on our side,” Corker told CNN’s Dana Bash, speaking about Republican nominee Marsha Blackburn. “I’ve said I’m gonna plan to vote for this person.”
However, Corker was reprimanded by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for calling Bredesen “a friend, a very good mayor, a good governor, a good business person,” Bash said.
“He is my friend,” Corker explained. “I’m not going to campaign against him, but I’m supporting our nominee.”
Bash then decided to ask him to define why he would endorse Blackburn over his buddy, Bredesen, but Corker evaded the question, simply noting her first vote would be an important factor.
“I think most people in our state, it is a red state, will focus on the first vote she makes, and that’s the vote to elect the majority leader, and I think at the end of the day that’s gonna be a big factor in the race.”
After Bash again pushed him on the question, noting his response wasn’t “a ringing endorsement,” Corker seemed to run out of things to say, by his own admission.
“I’m supporting the nominee,” he said. “I’ve worked with the nominee for some time, and I don’t know what else to say.”
Watch clip above, via CNN.
[Image via screengrab]
