Governor Phil Bredesen has officially endorsed a candidate in the race to replace him. Bredesen says he’s throwing his support behind Mike McWherter because he thinks he’s the man for the job, not just because he’s the only Democrat in the race.

Mike McWherter is a former governor’s son, but he’s never held office himself. Instead, he’s focused on running his own business, a beer distribution company. Bredesen also came to politics from a business background. He says that experience puts McWherter in a good position to tackle the state’s double-digit unemployment rate.

“He understands. He gets it. It’s not a theoretical issue with him. He’s a businessman who understands what it takes to create jobs and the kinds of things you have to roll your sleeves up and do to make these things happen.”

Every major candidate for governor has spent at least some time in the business world.

McWherter has a lot of ground to make up in the governor’s race. Last week, a Rasmussen poll asked people who they would vote for in a number of head-to-head matches. No matter which of the three major GOP candidates McWherter was paired with, the Republican came out on top.