The Tennessee Democratic Party is disavowing its U.S. Senate nominee, saying he’s associated with a “known hate group.” Mark Clayton won Thursday’s seven-way Democratic primary with 30% of the vote.
But Friday the state Democratic Party issued a statement saying it will do nothing to promote or support Clayton, and is urging Volunteer State democrats to write-in a candidate of their choice this November.
Clayton will be on the fall general election ballot against incumbent Republican Senator Bob Corker.
Democratic party spokesman Sean Braisted told reporters Friday that his party’s Senate nominee is a member of the group Public Advocate USA, which has been designated as an “anti-gay hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
No Democratic candidate in Tennessee’s Senate primary managed to gain much traction or achieve statewide visibility ahead of yesterday’s vote.
