NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – In a video interview released to the media, U.S. Senator Bob Corker listed several people who could potentially run for his Senate seat.
Corker announced Tuesday that he will not run for reelection in 2018.
During Wednesday’s interview, he gave the names of those he thinks would have the greatest chance of running for his seat.
Those potential candidates are Congressman Marsha Blackburn, former Congressman Stephen Fincher, Governor Bill Haslam, and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. He said the chance of Manning making a bid would not be likely.
“I think those would be the universe of people today that people would want to be thinking about,” Corker said.
However, Manning is ruling out a bid for the U.S. Senate seat, according to the Associated Press, saying in a sports radio interview that he is giving “zero consideration” to running.
The former NFL and University of Tennessee quarterback tells WGFX-FM that while he has an interest in politics he has “zero interest in being a politician.”
Corker said his decision to retire was not based on frustration, but a promise to himself early in his career that he would only serve two terms.
Corker has served in the Senate since he first ran in 2006. He is also chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“It’s a very difficult job to leave,” he said.
So far no one has come forward to express definitive interest in Corker’s seat. His term will expire at the end of 2018.