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Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tennessee governor compares KU game to political race
By ERIK SCHELZIG
Associated Press Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen says he gained insight to the Democratic presidential nomination fight from the University of Memphis' loss in college basketball's national championship game.
The Memphis Tigers appeared headed for a win in regulation Monday night until they began missing free throws. Then Kansas guard Mario Chalmers hit a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to send the game to overtime and the Jayhawks ended up winning 75-68.
''I was thinking at the game last night that the last 90 seconds were so extraordinary, you think it's the kind of thing that keeps Hillary Clinton in the race,'' Bredesen told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
''You're just a couple of mistakes on the other person's part and a lucky break your way away from totally turning that game upside down,'' he said. ''And I'm sure that's the kind of thing that's going through her mind at the moment.''
Bredesen, who is a Democratic superdelegate, has yet to say whether he will support Clinton or Barack Obama for the nomination.
The governor has appeared on national TV networks to propose a ''primary'' gathering of superdelegates following the last state Democratic primary to help avoid a prolonged nomination fight.
Bredesen, who lost a wager over the game's result with Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, said he has not yet bought his fellow Democrat the promised pork ribs from Memphis' famous Rendevous restaurant. If Memphis had won, Bredesen would have received Kansas steaks.
No similar bet was struck with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over Tuesday night's women's basketball championship between Tennessee and Stanford.
''If you want to talk to Arnold Schwarzenegger, it's a fairly elaborate process,'' he said. ''In Kathleen's case I've got her cell phone and she's got my cell phone.''
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