In a pretty naked effort to save face after having nominated Colbert-ready candidate Mark Clayton, the TNDP is selling the story that they aimed to find a celebrity to take on Bob Corker, but they just couldn't convince anybody:

Although he declined to identify any targets, Puttbrese said officials tried to recruit any Tennessee resident they could find with enough name recognition to give Corker a battle.

“Tons of calls were made to legitimate politicians and other high-profile Tennesseans,” Puttbrese said Monday. “We beat every bush and left no stone unturned with people who had already made a name for themselves.

“But looking at Bob Corker’s $14 million, $16 million Wall Street war chest is intimidating.”