The Bob Corker for Senate campaign has notified the federal election commission and the other Republican candidates of a personal contribution from Bob Corker to his campaign for U.S. Senate. He wrote checks to the campaign in recent weeks totaling $1,745,000.

The notifications are required by the Federal Election Commission.

The former Chattanooga mayor said, “In order to keep the negative tactics of others in this race from affecting the hard work of thousands of volunteers, activists and supporters who have worked so hard on this campaign, I have decided to make a significant personal contribution to the campaign.

“Whether it was starting my own business with $8,000 in savings, helping lead the creation of Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, or leading the effort to transform Chattanooga’s waterfront, I have always personally contributed to causes I believe in. This campaign is no different.”

The Corker campaign announced today its pre-primary campaign finance report showed $6.6 million in receipts, excluding the candidate’s personal contribution. The campaign showed $1.23 million cash on hand.

The report covers campaign finance activity from April 1 through July 14.

Ben Mitchell, Corker campaign manager said, “Unfortunately, Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary publicly announced sometime ago that they would use their combined financial resources to attack Bob Corker exclusively. As a result, it became clear that additional resources would be necessary to ensure the record was set straight.”

The Ed Bryant campaign responded by saying, "Twice in as many days, Democrat primary voter Bob Corker has taken dramatic actions that prove Ed Bryant is breathing down his neck just two weeks before Election Day. Corker's war against Tennessee's conservative Republicans across the state continues with Corker dumping $1.7 million into the Senate race, on the heels of a new poll showing Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ed Bryant within 11 points of Corker.

"Corker's attempt to buy himself a Senate seat follows a new negative ad from Corker which lies about Bryant's distinguished record of service, and triggers the 'millionaires' amendment,' allowing Bryant to raise $12,600 per person for the primary."

"With the release of a poll this morning showing that our campaign has the momentum in this race, and his increasingly negative campaign filled with bald-faced lies about Ed Bryant's record, it is no surprise that Mr. Corker has decided to attempt to buy himself a Senate seat," stated Bryant campaign spokesman Andrew Shulman. "Mr. Corker is clearly as not as popular as he claims to be, as evidenced by his lying about Ed Bryant's record in his latest ad and his dumping nearly $2 million into his hypocritical campaign.

"Clearly our campaign is energized by our rapidly increasing momentum. Tennesseans across the state are rejecting Mr. Corker's liberal record of raising taxes, supporting abortion rights, increased spending and getting busted with illegal immigrants on his job site."