Candidates Major •
Bob Corker (R), former mayor of
Chattanooga • Ed Choate (I) •
Harold Ford Jr. (D), U.S. Representative from Memphis • Gary Keplinger (I) • Bo Heyward (I) • Chris Lugo (G), peace activist • David "None of the Above" Gatchell (I)
Campaign Not long after Corker's primary victory was assured, Ford, at a rally of his supporters attended by
Bill Clinton, challenged Corker to seven televised debates across the state. In response, Corker said he will debate Ford but did not agree to Ford's request of seven debates. Both of Corker's primary opponents endorsed Corker immediately after they conceded the race. On August 25, the
Chattanooga Times Free Press reported that Corker had received a subpoena regarding an
environmental lawsuit filed three years ago. The lawsuit centers on the actions Corker took as mayor to allegedly demolish a conservation site to build a road that leads to a
Wal-Mart SuperCenter. Corker was scheduled to testify on October 18, but the case was settled on October 13. Ford, a member of the
Blue Dog Coalition in Congress, sought to run as a centrist, recognizing that Tennessee was a conservative state. While he was a member of a political dynasty in Memphis, this also served as a liability, as his state senator uncle was indicted on federal corruption charges the day after he announced his Senate candidacy. On October 1, Corker replaced his campaign manager. As the campaign entered October, Ford was leading in some polls. Despite running a strong campaign, he was hampered by his family's legal issues and the fact that his base was in
West Tennessee, as opposed to Corker's base in
East Tennessee. Before a Corker press conference in Memphis on October 20, Ford approached Corker in a parking lot and confronted his opponent about Iraq in front of local news cameras, pointing out that some of Corker's fellow Republicans are changing their minds on the war and wanting to debate him about the issue. In response, Corker said, "I came to talk about ethics, and I have a press conference. And I think it's a true sign of desperation that you would pull your bus up when I'm having a press conference." Ford replied that he could never find Corker. Corker then walked away to his press conference. On November 2,
Nielsen Monitor Plus indicated that the Corker campaign had purchased more television advertising than any other Senate candidate in the country through October 15.
Debates 3 debates were held between Corker and Ford. They participated in a televised debate in
Memphis on October 7, in
Chattanooga on October 10, and in
Nashville on October 28. In the October 7, 2006 debate in Memphis, the candidates covered a wide range of issues, including immigration, Iraq, cutting
health care costs, abortion, and Social Security. Commenting on Ford's political family, Corker said, "I think it's evident there's been a Ford in this (9th District congressional district) seat for 32 years, and if you look at the number of Fords that are on the ballot—especially I think the most recent one, I know it concerns a lot of people right here in Memphis." Ford responded, "I don't know why Mr. Corker keeps bringing up my family. . . . It's you and I running for the Senate. It's our ideas, our plans to make the future better for everybody. Let's stick to you and I. And if you come up with a recipe to pick family, say it. Otherwise be quiet and let's run for the Senate." • Complete video of debate, October 10, 2006 The final debate took place on October 28, in Nashville and mostly covered the economy. • Complete video of debate, October 28, 2006
"Who Hasn't?" advertisement 's controversial
attack ad against Ford. A negative ad titled "Who Hasn't?" sponsored by the
Republican National Committee ("RNC") that aired during the third and fourth weeks of October gained national attention and was condemned by both Ford and Corker. The ad ridiculed Ford through interviews of fictional citizens giving
deadpan endorsements that satirized Ford's policies and reputation, such as "terrorists need their privacy" and "taxes after I'm dead". The last of these is a scantily clad white woman (Johanna Goldsmith) acting as a
Playboy bunny who "met Harold at the
Playboy party", who invites Ford to "call me". Responding to questions about the ad, a Ford spokesperson said that Ford went to a 2005 Playboy-sponsored
Super Bowl party that was attended by more than 3,000 people, and Ford himself said that he likes "football and girls" and makes no apology for either. The
NAACP described the ad as "a powerful innuendo that plays to pre-existing prejudices about African-American men and white women", and former Republican Senator
William Cohen called it "a very serious appeal to a racist sentiment. Corker condemned the RNC ad, calling it "tacky" and stating that his campaign has asked to have it pulled. The ad was also denounced by
Canada's ambassador to the United States,
Michael Wilson, and in the
Parliament of Canada by MP
Omar Alghabra. The ad became an issue in Canada because of an actor's statement in the advertisement, "Canada can take care of
North Korea. They're not busy." Alghabra, in the
House of Commons, responded, "Is this what Canadians should be expecting as the outcome of cozying up to Mr. Bush by the
prime minister and his
Conservatives?" On October 25, Mehlman announced that the ad was "down now" during an interview with
Wolf Blitzer on
CNN. In its place, Tennessee television stations ran a different RNC ad.
Endorsements Ford received endorsements from, among others,
The Tennessean (Nashville's predominant daily newspaper),
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis's predominant daily newspaper), the
Jackson Sun (Jackson's predominant daily newspaper), the
Bristol Herald Courier,
Metro Pulse (Knoxville), the Professional Firefighters Association of Tennessee, and the Tennessee State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police. Corker was endorsed by, among others, the
NRA Political Victory Fund, the
Knoxville News-Sentinel, the
United States Chamber of Commerce,
Clarksville Leaf Chronicle,
Lebanon Democrat,
Kingsport Times News,
Nashville City Paper, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and the
National Right to Life Committee, though the Tennessee Right to Life Committee has refused to endorse Corker, claiming he is a "pro-abortion" politician. Both Corker and Ford were endorsed by the
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Chattanooga's predominant daily newspaper still maintains two separate editorial pages left over from when its two daily newspapers merged): Ford by The Times editors, and Corker by Free Press editors.
Fundraising Through October 18, 2006, Corker had raised more money than Ford and had also spent more, according to the candidates' most recent filings with the
Federal Election Commission (FEC). Corker tapped into his personal fortune to help fund his campaign, loaning his campaign a total of $4.1 million. Corker loaned $2 million of this amount on Wednesday, November 1, less than a week before the election, triggering the "millionaire's amendment" of the 2002
Campaign Reform Act and allowing Ford to seek $12,600 from individual donors instead of $2,100, the normal limit, for the final days of the campaign. None of the third-party candidates filed reports with the FEC.
Predictions Polling In the general election, polls showed Corker with a statistically insignificant lead in the week before the election.
Results By county Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic •
Cannon (Largest city:
Woodbury) •
Crockett (Largest city:
Bells) •
DeKalb (Largest city:
Smithville) •
Dickson (Largest city:
Dickson) •
Franklin (Largest city:
Winchester) •
Giles (Largest city:
Pulaski) •
Henry (Largest city:
Paris) •
Hickman (Largest city:
Centerville) •
Lewis (Largest city:
Hohenwald) •
Marion (Largest city:
Jasper) •
Marshall (Largest city:
Lewisburg) •
Warren (Largest city:
McMinnville) •
White (Largest city:
Sparta) •
Benton (largest municipality:
Camden) •
Clay (largest municipality:
Celina) •
Lake (largest municipality:
Tiptonville) •
Lauderdale (largest municipality:
Ripley) •
Overton (largest municipality:
Livingston) •
Perry (largest municipality:
Linden) •
Stewart (largest municipality:
Dover) •
Trousdale (largest municipality:
Hartsville) •
Van Buren (largest municipality:
Spencer) •
Hardeman (largest city:
Bolivar) •
Macon (Largest city:
Lafayette) •
Montgomery (Largest city:
Clarksville) •
Sequatchie (Largest city:
Dunlap) •
Haywood (largest city:
Brownsville) •
Shelby (largest city:
Memphis) •
Davidson (largest city:
Nashville) == See also ==