Despite a middling approval rating, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) could easily win reelection in 2012 against a slate of Democratic challengers — that is, unless popular former governor Phil Bredesen (D) runs against him.
In a new PPP poll, Corker fends off several Democratic candidates, but trails Bredesen by five points, 46% to 41%. None of the other Democratic challengers even came close in the poll.
Corker led Rep. Jim Cooper 50% to 32%; topped former Rep. Bart Gordon 52% to 29%; and bested former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. 55% to 32%. And in two bonus fantasy match-ups, Corker led former Tennessee Senator and Vice President Al Gore 53% to 38%, and beat country singer Tim McGraw 50% to 28%.
Bredesen left office this year afters erving two terms as governor and remains extremely popular in the state. In the poll, 63% of respondents had a favorable opinion of Bredesen, versus 19% who viewed him unfavorably.
Corker, meanwhile, has a tepid approval rating, with just 42% of Tennesseans approving of his job performance, and 36% disapproving.
The PPP poll was conducted February 9-13 among 500 Tennessee voters. It has a margin of error of 4.4%.
