The Republican activist group TeamGOP says former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, who is running for U.S. Senator, is "bought and paid for by Democrats."

The group said on May 26, Clayton McWhorter, "one of the leading Democrats in the state," will host a fundraiser for Mr. Corker on his farm.

TeamGOP said, "With serious questions swirling about Republican U.S. Senatorial candidate Bob Corker’s total inability to create support among Tennessee's rank and file Republicans, Bob Corker, again, has turned to his Democrat enablers for help. On May 26th one of the leading Democrats in the state of Tennessee will host a $1,000 per person fundraiser at his farm to help elect the Democrats’ perceived candidate…Mayor Bob Corker.

"Clayton McWhorter is not just an average Democrat; he is one of their most active leaders and fundraisers in Tennessee. Perhaps Clayton McWhorter is best known for the political ruckus he created when as a potential Democrat candidate for Governor in 1994, McWhorter opined that the reason for retardation rates among children in East Tennessee was due in part to inbreeding.'

"The only connection found between Mr. McWhorter and Bob Corker is that they both toyed with the idea, at least for a short time in the 1990s, of running for Governor as Democrats.

"TeamGOP.org was criticized for a press release on February 1, 2005, for questioning why so many individuals in the fund-raising arm of Bob Corker's U.S. Senate Campaign are large donors and fundraisers for Democrats, to sums of tens of thousands of dollars. Now Bob Corker can add another prominent Democrat family to his list.

"According to state and federal election disclosures, in the last couple of election cycles Clayton McWhorter and his family consisting of his wife, his son Stuart, and his daughter-in-law have given close to $50,000 to Democrats from Al Gore to Phil Bredesen to Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh. The McWhorters were particularly generous to Speaker Jimmy Naifeh. To be fair, Stuart McWhorter has donated to a handfull of Republicans, but generally after they were already elected.

"The Corker camp will insist this kind of Democrat support demonstrates the 'broad appeal' of Bob Corker. TeamGOP.org believes that is a load of political manure and should be treated as such. Outside of Mr. Corker’s hometown and a few Republican multi-millionaires, Bob Corker’s Republican support is anemic.

"It is long past the time when Bob Corker should stand up and stop hiding behind political rhetoric. If Bob Corker wants to represent the Democrat Party and their values, he should be running in their primary…not the one for Republicans.

"The question must be asked, why is Bob Corker running in the Republican Primary?"

TeamGOP.org is "a Republican grassroots organization based in Tennessee. It is dedicated to electing Republicans at every level of government."

TeamGOP.org publishes a weekly E-newsletter, manages its daily Blog and operates the political action committee, TeamGOP PAC. www.TeamGOP.org