In Tennessee, Corker Leads in GOP Primary (Bad News Alert)

Political Wire ^ | July 24, 2006

[Clintonfatigued]

In Tennessee's U.S. Senate campaign, a new Chattanooga Times Free Press poll shows Bob Corker (R) leading in the Republican primary with 39%, trailed by Ed Bryant (R) at 23% and Van Hilleary (R) at 22%.

In the general election, Corker leads Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-TN), 49% to 36%.

[aft_lizard]

Why is this bad news? What do us non-Tennesean's need to know?

[Coldwater Creek]

I won't vote for Corker in the primaries, but I would vote for the devil himself, before I would not let my vote count against Ford.

[okstate]

This is a Mason-Dixon poll, right?

At least it shows Corker handily defeating Ford in the general when compared to a Univ. of Tennessee poll taken recently (showed Corker +7).

[Clintonfatigued]

RINO Corker is dangerously ahead.

Only The Club From Growth could possibly stop him now, and they're remaining neutral in this primary.

[NewCenturions]

Is he another Sundquist? I was going to vote for Van Hilleary in the primary, but Bryant is good too...wish they wouldn't split the vote like that.

[JLS]

Does Tn have a runoff? If so, leading in the first round of a primary with the vote split like that is no big worry.

[Paleo Conservative]

I won't vote for Corker in the primaries, but I would vote for the devil himself, before I would not let my vote count against Ford.

If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.

Winston Churchill

[puroresu]

Corker seems okay from the looks of his website:

http://www.bobcorkerforsenate.com/Issues.aspx

Corker's the former mayor of Chattanooga, and as such he has less of a track record on ideological issues than his two main primary opponents, Bryant and Hilleary. Both of them had good records in the U.S. House and their supporters don't trust a big city (by regional standards, it's the state's fourth largest city) mayor. Big city mayor's tend to be pork-friendly. I'm a Bryant supporter, but I think Corker or Hilleary would be fine.

[Clintonfatigued]

Bob Corker worked in Sundquist's cabinet.

Corker isn't a real Republican, just a Democrat running in a Republican primary.

[Clintonfatigued]

"I'm a Bryant supporter, but I think Corker or Hilleary would be fine."

You're two-thirds correct.

[Clintonfatigued]

Tennessee has no runoff. The first-place finisher in the primary is the nominee.

[who knows what evil?]

It is widely believed that Corker is pro-choice, and is now compromising his 'principles' to gain more political power. Does that remind anyone of someone ELSE from Tennessee?

[don-o]

VH needs to withdraw so Ed can win

[BlueNgold]

I only know of Bob Corker what I can find in the press and on the web. Everything I can find puts him squarely and solidly within the conservative ranks. So please help educate those of us outside of the Volunteer State. The Senate is of great import to all of us, and defeating Mr. Ford should be a priority.

I hate the term RINO, I find it divisive and think that it plays into the hands of the left, but I digress. What I would like to ask is this...
- Which position(s) of Mr. Corker's make him anything less than a conservative?
- In what areas do you find him lacking?

[puroresu]

If Corker is the winner, I certainly hope he's sincere in his pro-life beliefs. It would be a disaster if he turned into another Al Gore.

[Clintonfatigued]

Bob Corker was once a Democrat, and not a conservative Democrat who switched parties out of principal, but an opportunist who changed positions.

He helped shape then-Gov. Don Sundquist's disastrous fiscal policies (including instituting a state income tax) and tried to thwart pro-life legislation. He only recently embraced pro-life views, out of political expediency.

Ed Bryant is the best candidate in the running, both ideologically and geographically.

[don-o]

Mash.

[Clintonfatigued]

UNfortunately, it's too late for that. The primary is August 3.

[TSchmereL]

Corker raised taxes on hotels in Chattanooga and he used to be less pro-life than he is now. Other than that, there isn't much to hang on him. The truth is, folks just don't know whether he will be a staunch conservative or a wishy-washy "compassionate" conservative. They are afraid that he will be the later, and I don't blame them. He does not have a well defined record. Being the mayor of Chattanooga is fairly small-time.