Poll shows support for Sen. Bob Corker slipping in Tennessee,

Support for Sen. Bob Corker seems to be abating as confidence in President Donald Trump and Gov. Bill Haslam remains strong, according to a new poll.

The poll, which was conducted in November by the Mason-Dixon polling firm, found that more than 50 percent of Tennessee voters approve of how the president is handling his job, and even more approved of Haslam.

Poll results from the 625 recent voters surveyed were split and analyzed by different regions — Middle, East and West Tennessee — as well as gender, age, race and party affiliation.

Approval ratings for the president are starkly divided by party lines with 81 percent of Republicans approving and 86 percent of Democrats disapproving. Support for Haslam is more mixed, with approval from 43 percent of Democrats and 67 percent of Republicans.

Corker, R-Tenn., who in September announced he would not run for re-election, is less popular among voters. Only 40 percent of voters approve of Corker, with his popularity now significantly higher among Democrats (49 percent) versus 36 percent of Republicans.

The firm’s poll notes there was speculation about Corker’s ability to win re-election in 2018, and the results show that only 32 percent of respondents said they would vote for him.

At one time, the senator and the president were cordial, even friendly. Trump considered Corker as he selected his vice president and secretary of state.

But in recent months, they have exchanged Twitter insults, with Trump calling the senator “Liddle Bob Corker” and Corker referring to the White House as an “adult day care center.”

Corker’s strongest support came from West Tennessee (45 percent) and the least from East Tennessee (33 percent), which includes Chattanooga, where he was mayor from 2001-2005.

In a twist, the majority of voters in East Tennessee approve of the president (55 percent).

More men in Tennessee disapprove than approve of Corker (36 percent disapprove) with 57 percent of men approving of Trump’s performance. Women remain split on both, with an equal 46 percent approving and disapproving of the president and a 43 percent split on Corker.

Support for longtime officeholder Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., is more mixed statewide. His approval rating sits at 44 percent, with only 51 percent approval from his fellow Republicans.