Rep. Marsha Blackburn met with top White House officials last week about her Senate bid in Tennessee while Sen. Bob Corker was mulling whether to un-retire and run again, the Washington Examiner reported.
The White House favors Blackburn's candidacy, signaling a lean her way from President Donald Trump if Corker did, indeed, change his mind and decide to run for re-election.
Blackburn announced her candidacy for Corker's seat only after he announced last fall that he would retire at the end of his term. However, if Corker does change his mind, Blackburn would not bow out.
It would make for an interesting Aug. 2 primary in the Volunteer State.
"I am running, and I'm going to win," Blackburn said recently.
And polls would support Blackburn's assertion. One recent poll has Blackburn leading Corker by nearly 30 points in a hypothetical matchup.
Blackburn's campaign went on the offensive last week amid a report that Republican leaders were pleading with Corker to not retire out of fear that Blackburn might lose to the Democratic challenger, former Gov. Phil Bredesen.
"Anyone who thinks Marsha Blackburn can't win a general election is just a plain sexist pig," Blackburn campaign spokeswoman Andrea Bozek said.
However, the Examiner reported last week that neither top congressional Republicans nor the White House are in the midst of any leg-pulling to try to convince Corker to run again.
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