Sources: Tuke for Senate drive underway

A number of prominent Democrats have asked former Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Bob Tuke to again consider challenging Lamar Alexander

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

Bob Tuke

Former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke is being encouraged by a number of prominent Democrats to reconsider and challenge U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander for the U.S. Senate, according to several NashvillePost.com sources.

Tuke, a Nashville attorney at the firm of Trauger & Tuke, currently serves as co-chair of the Tennessee Barack Obama for President campaign.

Earlier this year, Tuke announced that he would not mount a campaign against Alexander. Already, Jackson, Tenn., businessman Mike McWherter and Nashville attorney Kevin Doherty have publicly mulled a run and only to withdraw from consideration.

With national momentum seemingly favoring Democrats this year, some Tennessee Democrats have been anxious to find a credible candidate to capitalize and prevent Alexander from getting a free ride back to Washington. According to several NashvillePost.com sources, several prominent Democrats have coalesced around Tuke and have been strongly encouraging him to reconsider.

Tuke was seen making the rounds in the halls of the legislature this morning, speaking with a number of Democratic legislative leaders. But he has yet to return phone calls seeking comment.

In addition to being a former state Democratic Party chair, he is a graduate of Vanderbilt University ('69) and Vanderbilt School of Law ('76), as well a Marine Corps officer in Vietnam from 1969 to 1973.