Sen. Bob Corker (R.-TN), who will be retiring later this year, has long been one of the more outspoken critics of President Donald Trump.
Now, he may be one of the most prominent voices not to publicly campaign for his own potential replacement, Rep. Marsha Blackburn.
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Corker described Blackburn’s Democratic rival, former Gov. Phil Bredesen, as a “friend.”
“I’m not going to campaign against him,” Corker added, “but I’m supporting our nominee.”
Bash asked Corker why he was supporting Blackburn, at which point things became a bit awkward for the senator.
Bash: “Can you tell my why Republican Marsha Blackburn is better to represent your state in Tennessee, and take your seat, than Phil Bredesen?”
Corker: “Well 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 going to be a big factor in the race. But you know, Dana, the rest of the story wasn’t written during the interview that I have with the Christian Science Monitor.”
Bash: “So, Senator, that’s not a ringing endorsement of Marsha Blackburn to say that she should be elected just because she’s going to vote for Mitch McConnell.”
Corker: “Well, Dana, you know I’m supporting the nominee. I’ve worked with the nominee for some time, and I don’t know what else to say.”
This is awkward. https://t.co/0cGAxkvekK
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 22, 2018
Corker was referencing an event last week, hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, where he praised Bredesen’s candidacy.
Bredesen, according to the most recent polling, currently has a 10-point lead over Blackburn.