Bredesen could beat Corker for Senate seat, poll finds

photo In this file photo, former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen talks with then Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, left, at the Enterprise South Industrial Park construction site.

NASHVILLE - A new survey of 500 Tennessee voters finds U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., is "strongly favored" for re-election unless former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen decides to run against him.

The poll by Public Policy Polling, which has done surveys including Democratic candidates, says Bredesen, who left office last month, beats Corker by 46 percent to 41 percent with 12 percent saying they were "undecided."

Only 42 percent of Tennesseans approved of Corker's job performance while 36 disapproved and 23 percent were not sure, according to the poll.

Sixty-three percent had a favorable view of Bredesen while 19 percent had an unfavorable view and 18 percent were undecided.

The problem for Democrats is that Bredesen has said he does not intend to seek elected office.

Corker did far better in matchups with former Vice President Al Gore - Corker has 53 percent to 38 percent for Gore. With U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., the matchup was 50-32 percent. And he would handily defeat his one-time nemesis, former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., whom Corker narrowly defeated in 2006, with Corker garnering 55 percent to Ford's 32 percent.

The survey of voters was conducted Feb. 9-13. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.4 percent, according to Public Policy Polling.

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