Sen. Bob Corker is refusing to campaign against the popular former Democratic governor, and current Senate candidate Phil Bredesen, who Corker said is leading the race by a real six points.
Speaking at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, Corker said his instinct was that a Middle Tennessee State University poll showing Blackburn trailing by 10 points was probably a little off the mark.
But, in what might only increase the level of alarm for the GOP, he said, “I’m guessing she’s down six, but down for real six.”
Corker indicated the question of whether or not Republican control of the Senate is really up for grabs in November could sway voters.
Tennessee is an example of the perfect storm that is building against Republicans
In Tennessee, one candidate is a former governor with bipartisan appeal. The other candidate is someone who wasn’t her party’s first or second choice for the nomination. Democratic are running better candidates than Republicans. Rep. Marsha Blackburn has no crossover appeal. She appeals to the far-right and the Fox News crowd, which is a substantial number of voters in Tennessee, but not the majority.
Just as has been witnessed in special elections around the country, Democrats are running candidates that are a great fit for their states and districts. Doug Jones was a strong candidate because he is the right kind of candidate for Alabama. Phil Bredesen is the perfect fit for Tennessee.
If Democrats are going to win in red districts and states, they will do it, not with a one size fits all message, but through running candidates who fit the states and districts that they will represent.
As Republicans have adopted the narrow far-right ideology of Trump, there is an opening for Democrats to become the “big tent” party that has open doors for liberals, moderates, and conservatives.
Sen. Corker was right. Republicans have a problem in Tennessee, but it is uncertain whether even the issue of control of the Senate can prevent Democrats from winning in places that would have been unimaginable two years ago.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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