They didnยt exactly jump through burning hoops or shout ยHallelelujah!ย
to do so, but three prominent politicians who had been regarded in some quarters
as possible holdouts made their election-day preferences known on Friday in the
cases of senatorial candidate Harold Ford Jr., and congressional candidate Steve Cohen.
Ford got a boost from a longtime rival of the larger Ford
political clan, Memphis mayor Willie Herenton, who was one of the
attendees at a Ford-sponsored prayer breakfast held at The Peabody. The mayor
afterward said that in the interests of Democratic Party unity he would support
Rep. Fordยs bid for the U.S. Senate, ending speculation that he would sit out
the Senate race or even support the congressmanยs Republican opponent, Bob
Corker.
ยAt the urging of a group of clergy and business leaders, I
agreed to endorse Congressman Harold Ford in his bid for the United States
Senate,ย said the mayor in an interview with The Flyer. ยI can look at
the big picture,ย said Herenton, who said the decision was taken ยin the
interests of Democratic Party solidarity,ย and , he emphasized, ยin the context
that I have previously endorsed Governor Phil Bredesen for reelection and state
Senator Steve Cohen for Congress.ย
The mayor said he had ยdeliberated for the last two
weeksย on the matter of an endorsement and noted that, while Rep. Ford had
requested an endorsement ยin passing,ย as they had encountered each other in
recent weeks, there had been ยno Memphis conversationย at which the congressman
had sought his support.
Herenton contrasted that with the fact that former
Chattanooga mayor Corker had ยappropriately and respectfullyย requested his
support and discussed with the mayor his plans regarding Memphis, if elected.
ยIn that sense, I might have had a greater respect for Mr. Corker had an
endorsement of him been possible.ย
But, said Herenton, he had made it clear to Corker
that no such endorsement would be forthcoming and that, for reasons of local
unity and party solidarity, the choice for him came down to one of
non-endorsement or endorsing Rep. Ford. He said that his endorsement, which has
still not been communicated directly to the congressman, would not be
ยleft-handedย and that he was at Fordยs disposal for campaign appearances.
Meanwhile, Cohen, the Democratic state senator from
Midtown and Democratic nominee for the 9th Congressional District, got a stamp of approval from Governor Phil Bredesen, who
confirmed his support for Cohen, the party nominee for the 9th
District congressional seat. Asked about the race (which includes Republican
Mark White and independent Jake Ford, besides Cohen) the governor, who was in
Memphis for announcements about a new industry and a state-county anti-crime
initiative, said he intended to support every statewide Democratic nominee, ยand
that certainly includes Senator Cohen.ย
Also acknowledging his support for Cohen was former
interim state senator and current Shelby County Commissioner Sidney Chism,
who expressed himself similarly to the governor, saying, ยI am going to vote for
every Democratic nominee, including Senator Cohen.ย
Bredesen and Chism, along with Cohen, were attendees at the prayer breakfast, where they reaffirmed their support for Rep.
Ford.