Tennessee Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen made waves when, following the hotly-contested confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, he claimed that he would have also voted in favor of confirmation.
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 07: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (L) participates in a ceremonial swearing in by retired Justice Anthony Kennedy (R) as President Donald Trump, Kavanaugh’s wife Ashley, youngest daughter Liza and oldest daughter Margaret look on in the East Room of the White House October 08, 2018 in Washington, DC. Kavanaugh was confirmed in the Senate 50-48 after a contentious process that included several women accusing Kavanaugh of sexual assault. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
But according to a video released Thursday by James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas, Bredesen’s own staffers believe that he made the statement for purely political reasons and that he would never actually have cast a “yes” vote.
Citing a CBS poll, one staffer explained the statement as a move designed to pick up some of the more moderate Republicans.
“We’re down eight points and it also said that 47 percent of Tennesseans … oh, no, no, no … 74 percent of Tennesseans wanted to see Kavanaugh confirmed,” she said. “So, like, this isn’t like … So, he thought that like by coming out in support it would get more Republicans on his side. He wasn’t doing as well in the rural parts.”
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Others voiced concerns that making the statement could impact the number of Democrats who were willing to get out and vote for Bredesen. “I’m going to be pissed if this doesn’t pay off,” one staffer admitted. “If we lose, I’m going to be so mad. Because not only did he forfeit a lot of moral high ground … If it’s by a small margin, that’s the base.”
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The RCP average of polls taken in the last month has Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn leading Bredesen by 2.7 in the race to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Bob Corker.
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