As 74-year-old politician Phil Bredesen reenters the political scene, he’s quickly realizing how toxic the Democrat brand has become in Tennessee since he last ran.
In a recent interview about his Senate campaign, Bredesen admitted as much saying, “I’ll be honest: If I ran for this office saying, ‘I’m a Democrat, vote for me because I’m a Democrat,’ I wouldn’t win.” This presents a major problem for Bredesen. He has been one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent figures, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to major Democratic candidates like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and that’s something Tennesseans won’t be forgetting any time soon.
“No matter how hard he tries, Phil Bredesen is not going to escape the toxic reality that he’s a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat,” said NRSC Spokesman Michael McAdams. “Bredesen’s decades-long career supporting Democratic policies and donating to progressives like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton stands in direct opposition to the values Tennessee voters are looking for in their elected officials.”
BACKGROUND
• Since 1983, Bredesen Has Given $317,671 In Campaign Contributions to Democratic Candidates and Committees. (“Bredesen, Phil,” Political MoneyLine, Accessed 10/29/17)