Bredesen discussed race with Corker

Former Gov. Phil Bredesen said Friday he’s had numerous conversations with Sen. Bob Corker since Corker announced his decision to retire in September, and the Democrat said he was confident Corker would not reverse his decision.

“Yes, he and I had numerous conversations from the time that he said he was not going to run [in September] up until the present,” Bredesen told a group of reporters after picking up his nomination papers in Nashville. “I really was pretty confident all the time that in the end he would stick with what he originally decided to do, and I respect him.”

Former Gov. Phil Bredesen officially launched his bid for U.S. Senate Thursday, announcing his run with an online video.

Bredesen’s comments come after Corker’s chief of staff announced this week that the senator would stick by his September decision and not seek a third term. It was after Corker made his initial announcement that Bredesen decided to run.

But there were weeks of intrigue over reports that Corker might reverse his decision and jump back in the race. Some Republicans fear that U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, will face a considerable challenge against Bredesen in a general election and the GOP could lose an important seat.

Even Gov. Bill Haslam said Bredesen would be “formidable” opponent for anyone. Haslam himself briefly considering running for Corker’s seat, but soon decided against it.

Bredesen said he would not have run against Corker as an incumbent.

“I have very high regard for Sen. Corker and, obviously, we’ve been friends a long time,” he said. “I did not look forward to the prospects of there being a race between the two of us. I still think there was a path to victory, but that would not be a pleasant experience for me.”

Bredesen said it was a combination of an opening in the Senate and calls from Tennesseans across the state that motivated him to run.

Bredesen, governor from 2003-2011, said while Corker was “very helpful” to him in the conversations the two men had, Corker stopped short of encouraging him to run.