Senate Hopefuls in Tenn. Square Off
2006-10-09
Source: Associated Press
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rss feedRepublican Senate candidate Bob Corker on Saturday called his Democratic opponent, Harold Ford Jr., a member of a family engaged in "machine-type politics," while Ford accused Corker of doing nothing about illegal immigrants working on his job site years ago.
Ford, a Memphis congressman who would be the first black U.S. senator from the South since Reconstruction, and Corker, a former Chattanooga mayor, are vying to replace Bill Frist, the Republican Senate majority leader, who is retiring. The Nov. 7 election's outcome could determine whether Democrats can take control of the Senate.
In the first of three scheduled debates, Corker said it is unusual that a Ford has held the 9th District congressional seat for more than three decades and noted that the Ford family has long been active in area politics.
"Let me be clear: I love them," Ford said of his family. But he urged Corker to stick to the debate.
Corker has previously shied away from bringing up the Ford family history. Over the years, members of Ford's family have won numerous local elections in Memphis and won seats in Congress and the state Legislature.
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