U.S. Sen. Bob Corker said Monday he's not endorsing anyone in today's Tennessee presidential primary, and he defended his vote on a controversial immigration bill that's become a hot-button campaign issue.
"I'm not running from that [vote]," the Tennessee Republican said in Chattanooga. "I thought it was a reasonable start."
Corker said Monday during a visit to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga he didn't believe endorsing a presidential candidate was "the right thing to do" leading up to today's Super Tuesday primaries.
"I'm just giving no advice," said the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
However, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander both have come out in recent days in support of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Alexander said Sunday in a statement that Rubio is "the conservative candidate who can inspire us, win the election, and lead our country."
Also, former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga is leading Rubio's campaign in Tennessee.
Corker said he voted last Monday and has been asked a lot about an endorsement, but "I felt like me playing a role in endorsing a candidate is not the right thing to be doing."
"We'll see how this primary shakes out," Corker said at the UTC College of Business Leadership Speaker Series.
Asked about New York businessman Donald Trump, the former Chattanooga mayor said the presidential field is a diverse one, with each candidate bringing unique traits to the race.
Corker said that, for himself, being a businessman has helped in the public arena.
"What people are looking for is a record of accomplishment and success, whether that's someone outstanding in classroom, whether that's a physician, whether that's a business person," said the former construction business owner.
Meanwhile, immigration has shaped up as a contentious and emotional topic in the presidential race, and Corker said the 2013 bill that drew 68 Senate votes was "a good first try" to deal with the issue.
"It's a national security issue to us now. It's not going away," the two-term senator said. Corker said his border security amendment helped the bill pass the Senate.
"People thought it was overkill, but it caused the bill to pass. It wasn't going to get to the 60-vote threshold," he said. However, the U.S. House never took up the bill.
Concerning Corker's efforts on modern slavery, he said a bipartisan bill he has introduced could end up affecting "millions and millions of people."
"Today, there are more people in slavery that ever in the history of the world," he said. "Five-year-old girls in cages in Cambodia are being sold like property."
In Ghana, Corker said, young boys are forced to fish until they're so malnourished they're thrown overboard. He said 26 percent of the people in slavery are in sexual servitude.
"Right here in Chattanooga we have slavery," he said. "I guarantee there are people here today who are in sexual servitude and can't get out."
UTC Chancellor Dr. Steve Angle said Corker could have focused his attention on simpler issues than human slavery but hasn't.
"He chose to use his position to help 27 million people around the world who are enslaved, many of whom are women and children," he said.
On the issue of veterans care, Corker said he doesn't understand why the massive Department of Veterans Affairs is so inept. He was critical of legislation that "double downed" on the faulty delivery care system for veterans, as he preferred to give veterans more choice.
"I have no understanding why we force vets to drive by perfectly wonderful facilities, that you all want to go to, to wait in line in a facility with substandard care," Corker said.
Contact staff writer Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.