NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s Republican political leaders and candidates held a carefully choreographed news conference Saturday to project unity as they look toward competitive November elections after a rough primary for governor.
Addressing reporters before multiple GOP unity events, term-limited Gov. Bill Haslam, Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, Senate nominee Rep. Marsha Blackburn and gubernatorial nominee Bill Lee spoke about a unified party. The three opponents whom Lee defeated — former state economic development Commissioner Randy Boyd, U.S. Rep. Diane Black and state House Speaker Beth Harwell — stood behind the speakers and didn’t make comments themselves. No questions were taken from reporters at the news conference.
There was no talk about loyalty to President Donald Trump after it was a main theme of the gubernatorial primary, and it remains to be seen how much candidates will focus on Trump in the general election in the state he won by 26 percentage points in 2016. Lee and Blackburn have competitive, open races.
Lee faces Democratic former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. Blackburn faces Democratic former Gov. Phil Bredesen in a crucial race to succeed Corker, who is retiring.
Alexander, for one, spoke generally about what Blackburn’s…
