Corker staying mum on GOP presidential field

Senator hopes to be foreign policy 'North Star' for candidates

U. S. Senator Bob Corker meets with members of the Chattanooga Time Free Press editorial board Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
U. S. Senator Bob Corker meets with members of the Chattanooga Time Free Press editorial board Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Instead of giving editorial comments about who's good and who's not, I look at my role as to be the North Star for people if they want to utilize that on foreign policy issues and for them to have a place to look at, hopefully, a reasoned view on particular topics.

After ruling out a presidential bid himself earlier this year, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., says he hopes to keep the peace by avoiding endorsing or even publicly commenting on the field of GOP hopefuls who are running.

"I've got five senators running," the former Chattanooga mayor wryly told Times Free Press reporters and editors last week. "Two of them are on our Foreign Relations Committee. I'd like to be able to continue to pass things out of committee. I don't want to give up my role as chairman in getting involved in races like that."

The senator said he's gotten calls from several candidates sounding him out about foreign affairs. That's the role he sees himself playing in the GOP primary.

"I look at what my job is during this presidential race," he said. "Instead of giving editorial comments about who's good and who's not, I look at my role as to be the North Star for people if they want to utilize that on foreign policy issues and for them to have a place to look at, hopefully, a reasoned view on particular topics."

The GOP field, Corker said, has "some highly qualified people who are running who would make good presidents. I'm very satisfied with the talent pool that we have."

The senator repeatedly declined to discuss the front runner, outspoken billionaire businessman and reality TV star Donald Trump, whom polls place atop the 17-strong pack of GOP candidates.

Asked generally if public anger will keep some candidates in contention, Corker said, "I have no idea."

"I'm not a politician. I'm just not," he said. "I serve in a public office. I'm not one of those kinds of people who sort of tries to figure out how to capture, how to tap into either people's emotion or divide people. That's just not who I am. I try to focus on facts. I know I don't call them all right. I just try to solve problems each day."

Corker said he was "fascinated" by the recent GOP debate. He said he scored it differently than what most Republican voters said in surveys. Asked specifically what he thought of Trump, Corker said, "I've never met him."

And on whether he's surprised by Trump's rise in polls, he said, "Again, I'm not taking the bait on any of this."

Asked what he would say if Trump became the GOP's nominee and offered Corker a chance to run as his vice presidential running mate, Corker said his answer would be "thank you."

Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., serve on the Foreign Relations Committee. Other Senate Republicans running are Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and fiery Ted Cruz of Texas, with whom Corker famously tangled.

The fifth senator is Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a self-described socialist who is running for the Democratic nomination.

Corker was much more forthcoming on Sanders, describing how he accompanied Sanders on the Vermonter's first trip to Afghanistan.

"What an interesting place to take Bernie," Corker said. "And just for what it's worth, I am personally incredibly fond of Bernie Sanders. Obviously I don't agree with many of his policy solutions."

But he said people shouldn't underestimate Sanders.

"Everything you see him doing out there is authentic. There's nothing about it that's fabricated or created by some campaign manager or pollster. That is Bernie Sanders and that is why I think he's doing so well, because he's so authentic. This is just him emanating."

Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.

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