TN Senate Race: Mackler's Withdrawal Clears Field For Bredesen

NASHVILLE, TN -- Democrat James Mackler, the political upstart who announced in April he was running for Senate, is dropping out of the race, clearing the field for former Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Mackler, a Nashville attorney and veteran, said he was dropping out of the race "in a spirit of unity" to "put us all on a path to victory."

Mackler, who was the only Democrat in the race for nearly eight months until Bredesen's announcement earlier this month, said he is launching a political action committee which will support candidates who support "service."