Why Bob Corker is bucking GOP tribalism, in a Tennessee tradition
| Washington
American politics has become famously tribal, but one of the hottest Senate contests this cycle is notably not: the race to replace retiring Sen. Bob Corker (R) of Tennessee.聽
Senator Corker, influential chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 鈥� and once again an ally of President Trump 鈥� is a longtime friend of former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, who is running for Corker鈥檚 seat and leading in the polls.聽
Here鈥檚 the rub: Mr. Bredesen is a Democrat. And Corker has no intention of campaigning against his friend, or (by implication) for the Republican, Rep. Marsha Blackburn. Corker, in fact, was so concerned that the very conservative Congresswoman Blackburn would lose his seat that a few months ago, he floated the idea of running for reelection after all. But he didn鈥檛.
Now, the latest out of Tennessee shows Bredesen ahead of Blackburn by 10 percentage points. And this race matters. Republicans control the Senate by the slimmest of margins 鈥� 51-49.
But Corker is adamant. He will not campaign against Bredesen. He has donated the maximum allowable to Blackburn鈥檚 campaign, but that鈥檚 all he鈥檚 done for her.
鈥淟ook, I鈥檓 not going to campaign against someone who I鈥檝e been a friend with and worked with,鈥� Corker said Wednesday at a breakfast for reporters hosted by 海角大神.
Corker talked about his and Bredesen鈥檚 23 years鈥� worth of collaborations. When Corker was Tennessee鈥檚 commissioner of finance and Bredesen was mayor of Nashville, they worked together to bring the Titans football team to the state. Later, as senator and governor, they worked together to bring Volkswagen into Tennessee.
Corker says that poll may be a little 鈥渉eavy鈥� for Bredesen, and suggests it鈥檚 more like a six-point lead. But that鈥檚 still significant, in a state that candidate Trump won by 26 percentage points.
鈥淲ill Bredesen have crossover appeal? No question,鈥� Corker says. 鈥淚 mean, you know, we have significant Republican fundraisers who are hosting fundraisers for him today.鈥�
Corker, in fact, has a healthy campaign war chest of his own 鈥� $6 million. What might he do with it? 鈥淚 have absolutely no idea,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut I certainly don鈥檛 plan on dispersing it anytime soon.鈥�
Corker also takes pride in his state鈥檚 history of producing distinguished senators.
鈥淟et鈥檚 take me out of the picture,鈥� he starts. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something in the water in Tennessee.鈥�
Corker rattles off illustrious Volunteer State senators from both parties: Howard Baker (R) 鈥� majority leader, White House chief of staff, US ambassador to Japan; Al Gore (D) 鈥� vice president, presidential nominee; Bill Frist (R) 鈥� majority leader; Jim Sasser (D) 鈥� US ambassador to China; Fred Thompson (R) 鈥撀燱atergate attorney, TV actor, presidential candidate.
Tennessee鈥檚 senior senator, Lamar Alexander (R) 鈥� who, like Corker, has a record of bipartisanship 鈥� has also served as governor and US secretary of Education, and ran for president twice.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had senators that, generally speaking, have been statesmen, that are willing to burn political capital to solve our nation鈥檚 problems, and are thoughtful people,鈥� Corker says. He hopes 鈥渂oth candidates present themselves in this race as people who are going to be willing to do that.鈥�
Corker has had well-publicized ups and downs with Trump. During the campaign, Trump reportedly had Corker on his short list for running mate, then after winning the election, considered him for secretary of State. By last fall, the two were on the outs, with an exasperated Corker tweeting about the White House as 鈥渁n adult daycare center.鈥� Trump tweeted back about 鈥淟iddle鈥� Bob Corker, mocking the senator鈥檚 slight stature.
By January, Corker and Trump had mended fences, and now they talk regularly. At the Monitor breakfast, Corker applauded Trump鈥檚 鈥渁ccessibility,鈥� though he noted that there鈥檚 a downside. Trump talks to people on the phone late into the evening, and by morning, he might have a completely different position on an issue that staff and allies had thought was settled.
Still, Corker says he now has a good working relationship with Trump, which leads to an obvious question: Would the senator take a position in the Trump administration after he leaves office at the end of the year? How about chief of staff?
鈥淐onjecture is bad for your health,鈥� Corker says cryptically. 鈥淚 go to bed early, too.鈥�
John Geer, a political scientist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, calls Corker a 鈥渃lass act.鈥�
鈥淗e is smart and wants to make a difference,鈥� Professor Geer says. 鈥淗e has had some disagreements with President Trump. But that speaks to his independent streak. It will be interesting to see what he does next.鈥�
