Sen. Bob Corker is standing by his decision not to seek re-election, a senior adviser says

WASHINGTON – A senior adviser to Sen. Bob Corker said Sunday the senator is sticking by his decision to retire at the end of the year, even though some people have encouraged him to run for another term.

“It is true that Senator Corker has been encouraged by people across Tennessee and in the Senate to reconsider his decision, but at this point nothing has changed,” the adviser said.

Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced last September that he would not seek re-election this year, saying he felt like the time had come for him to leave the Senate after serving two terms.

CNN, citing anonymous sources, reported Sunday that Corker has had conversations with a few colleagues in recent days about whether he should reconsider his decision to leave Congress at the end of the year.

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Those with whom Corker has reportedly discussed the matter include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn; and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

McConnell would have preferred that Corker sought re-election, according to CNN, but once he announced he would not, the GOP establishment rallied around Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who already is in the race.

On the Democratic side, former Gov. Phil Bredesen is seeking his party's nomination for the Senate seat.

McConnell also has told Corker that, if he were to change his mind and get back in the race, he would have to get President Trump on board – something that isn’t likely to happen, according to CNN. Corker spent much of last year in a well-publicized, at-times nasty spat with Trump.

Trump mocked the senator as “Liddle” Bob Corker, argued he couldn’t get elected dog catcher, claimed that Corker sought his endorsement and then decided not to seek re-election when he didn’t get it.

Corker denies seeking Trump’s endorsement, called him “an utterly untruthful president,” labeled the White House “an adult day care center” and warned that Trump’s actions were putting the nation on the path to World War III.

The feud has shown some signs of thawing in recent weeks. When Trump traveled to Nashville last month to speak at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 99th Annual Convention, Corker flew with him aboard Air Force One.

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