Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) in a new interview chided Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) for his warm words about a Democrat running for his Tennessee Senate seat, saying the retiring senator needs to “sit back and be quiet.”
Black, who is running for Tennessee governor, also said Corker’s positive remarks about former Gov. Phil Bredesen were “inappropriate,” and suggested that “gender or personality” could factor in to unenthusiastic support for Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s (R-Tenn.) Senate campaign.
“I have no idea whether it’s gender or personality or whatever issue, but I think that it is inappropriate for him to be doing what he’s doing,” Black told Politico. “If nothing else, I think he should just sit back and be quiet.”
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Corker has endorsed Blackburn to succeed him, but has often done so unenthusiastically. He responded to Black’s comments, telling Politico that he’d be fine with no longer talking about the race to succeed him.
“I’d be more than glad to stop talking about it,” he said. “So I guess I will.”
At an event with reporters last month, Corker spoke fondly of Bredesen, a Democrat who is also running for the Senate seat, saying that he has “real appeal” to some Republicans. Corker added that he would not campaign against Bredesen.
“He was a very good mayor, a very good governor, a very good business person,” Corker said. “Look, I’m not going to campaign against someone who I’ve been friends with and worked with.”