Blackburn takes jabs at Corker in speech
“If you are ready to have a senator who’s going to be a conservative, vote like a conservative, who’s ready to get rid of broken promises and indecisiveness, stand with me.”
— U.S. REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN
Without specifically mentioning Bob Corker, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn made several subtle jabs alluding to the two-term senator while speaking to a group of Republicans in her home district.
“I know that the U.S. Senate is a source of frustration. It’s broken,” Blackburn told members of the Williamson County Republican Party at its annual Reagan Day dinner.
“You cannot send people to the Senate who have broken it to try to fix it.”
Touching upon several early hallmarks of her campaign — including calling for supporting the president, the military and a wall along the southern border of the country — Blackburn touted her GOP credentials.
“If you are ready to have a senator who’s going to be a conservative, vote like a conservative, who’s ready to get rid of broken promises and indecisiveness, stand with me,” she said, later receiving a standing ovation from many in attendance.
Blackburn’s remarks come as Republicans throughout the state have begun to back her candidacy despite continued consideration from U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, who is mulling over a potential bid for a third term.
Corker has been reconsidering retirement, given fears among some Republicans that Blackburn could lose in a general election to former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, in the race that is expected to draw national attention.
While the Brentwood Republican, who was the event’s keynote speaker, scoffed at the notion, a mobile billboard circling the area in the lead-up to the dinner highlighted the idea.
“Marsha = Swamp. She can’t beat Bredesen. GOP make a change now!” the digital sign read.
Although a spokeswoman for Blackburn’s campaign initially said fears she would lose in a general election were those of a “sexist pig,” the candidate made no such remarks Friday.
Instead, Blackburn — who did not mention Bredesen — spoke about Democrats trying to “short circuit” a conservative revolution taking place across the country.
“They think they can turn Tennessee blue. But they’re not even gonna turn it purple, because they are running into the red wall, and the red wall starts right here in Williamson County,” Blackburn said to loud applause.
The Brentwood Republican also made a subtle allusion to Corker’s initial reluctance to embrace the recently approved tax reform legislation.
“They need a U.S. senator that is going to support President Donald Trump on tax reform and not be the only no vote,” she said.
Corker, who some expected to appear at Friday’s dinner, was not in attendance, though he was expected to attend another GOP event in Shelby County on Saturday.
In recent days Corker has made public appearances in Tennessee, stirring speculation about a reemergence in the U.S. Senate race.
While Corker has given few public indications about a potential bid, Blackburn’s campaign has pressed on, rolling out a series of endorsements while political organizations supporting her bid have released polls on the race
The Friday night GOP dinner came one week after Blackburn’s main primary opponent, former U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher, dropped out of the race while encouraging Corker to run.
Also seeking the Republican nomination is former Memphis Grizzlies ophthalmologist Rolando Toyos and perennial candidate Larry Crim.