Article snippet: Former Gov. Phil Bredesen’s (D) entry into Tennessee’s Senate race could be a big win for Democrats, who feel his unique strengths could give them a rare shot at a Senate seat in the red state. Bredesen was the last Democrat to win statewide office in the state, emboldening Democrats who think he can buck Tennessee’s drift towards the GOP and fill the seat now held by Republican Sen. MORE. But several other former lawmakers’ failed bids for the Senate in the last cycle election cycle have some observers openly wondering whether Bredesen, who has been off the campaign trail for more than a decade, can successfully reenter the political arena. “It gives the Democrats a fighting chance in a state where they arguably don’t have much business competing in,” said Kyle Kondik, managing editor at Sabato’s Crystal Ball. “A governor’s race is different from a Senate race. It’s a nationalized contest, often, and the Senate seat has become more Republican over time, so it’s definitely an uphill battle for him.” Bredesen, 74, also faces another daunting fact in Tennessee: Democrats haven’t won a Senate seat there in nearly 30 years. In his announcement video, Bredesen sits on a porch overlooking a field as he talks about how he can fix a “broken” Washington with bipartisanship. Bredesen’s campaign has already scared off at least one potential Democratic challenger, but it looks like he won’t be able to completely clear the primary field. Democrat James Mackler, 44, entered... Link to the full article to read more