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'''Mark E. Clayton''' (born c. 1976) is the [[Democratic]] nominee in the 2012 [[United States Senate]] election in [[Tennessee]].

'''Mark E. Clayton''' (born c. 1976) is the [[Democratic]] nominee in the 2012 [[United States Senate]] election in [[Tennessee]]. He faces the [[Republican]] incumbent [[Bob Corker]] in the November 6 [[general election]].

==Opposition from his party leadership==

==Disowned by his party leadership==

On August 2, 2012, Clayton received his party's nomination with roughly 30 percent of the vote in a multi-candidate field. He faces incumbent [[Republican]] [[Bob Corker]] in the November 6 [[general election]].

On August 2, 2012, Clayton received his party's nomination with roughly 30 percent of the vote in a multi-candidate field. After the victory, the Tennessee Democratic Party disowned the nominee because of his [[conservative]] and [[libertarian]] philosophy.<ref name="tenn">{{cite news| url=http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120803/NEWS02/308030124/Senate-nominee-Mark-Clayton-disavowed-by-Tennessee-Democratic-Party-?odyssey=nav%7Chead| title=Tennessee Democratic Party disavows Senate nominee |newspaper=The Tennessean |date=August 3, 2012}}</ref> The Tennessee Democratic leadership also objects to Clayton's vice-presidency<ref name=clayton/> of the socially conservative [[interest group]], the Public Advocate of the United States, based in [[Washington, D.C.]] The Public Advocate has been designated a "hate group" by the [[Alabama]]-based [[Southern Poverty Law Center]], operated by [[Morris Dees]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tenn. Dems disavow Senate nominee, cite hate group|url=http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/06/tenn-dems-disavow-senate-nominee-cite-hate-group/|accessdate=14 August 2012}}</ref>

After Clayton's victory, the Tennessee Democratic Party disowned the nominee because of his [[conservative]] and [[libertarian]] philosophy.<ref name="tenn">{{cite news| url=http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120803/NEWS02/308030124/Senate-nominee-Mark-Clayton-disavowed-by-Tennessee-Democratic-Party-?odyssey=nav%7Chead| title=Tennessee Democratic Party disavows Senate nominee |newspaper=The Tennessean |date=August 3, 2012}}</ref> The Tennessee Democratic leadership also objects to Clayton's vice-presidency<ref name=clayton/> of the socially conservative [[interest group]], the Public Advocate of the United States, based in [[Washington, D.C.]] The Public Advocate has been designated a "hate group" by the [[Alabama]]-based [[Southern Poverty Law Center]], operated by [[Morris Dees]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tenn. Dems disavow Senate nominee, cite hate group|url=http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/06/tenn-dems-disavow-senate-nominee-cite-hate-group/|accessdate=14 August 2012}}</ref>

According to the party:

According to the party:

A Clayton spokesman argued that the Tennessee party had violated the law by using its resources to attack one of its own candidates. The Clayton campaign promised to file a complaint with the [[Federal Election Commission]].<ref name="complain">{{cite web|url=http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19197360/clayton-defends-victory-and-affiliation|title=Clayton Defends Victory and Affiliation}}</ref>

A Clayton spokesman argued that the Tennessee party had violated the law by using its resources to attack one of its own candidates. The Clayton campaign promised to file a complaint with the [[Federal Election Commission]].<ref name="complain">{{cite web|url=http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19197360/clayton-defends-victory-and-affiliation|title=Clayton Defends Victory and Affiliation}}</ref>

Clayton, who is single, maintains his official residence in Whites Creek in Davidson County near [[Nashville]], Tennessee. He attended [[Pensacola Christian College]] in Pensacola, [[Florida]].<ref name=clayton>{{cite web|url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jul/15/mark-e-clayton-for-us-senate/#|title=Mark E. Clayton|publisher=knoxnews.com|accessdate=August 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ussearch.com/consumer/people-search/names/tn+whites+creek/mark/clayton.html?searchApproxAge=35&searchMName=E|title=Mark E. Clayton|publisher=ussearch.com|accessdate=August 16, 2012}}</ref>

Clayton, who is single, maintains his official residence in Whites Creek in Davidson County near [[Nashville]], Tennessee. He graduated in pre-law from  [[Pensacola Christian College]] in Pensacola, [[Florida]].<ref name=clayton>{{cite web|url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jul/15/mark-e-clayton-for-us-senate/#|title=Mark E. Clayton|publisher=knoxnews.com|accessdate=August 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ussearch.com/consumer/people-search/names/tn+whites+creek/mark/clayton.html?searchApproxAge=35&searchMName=E|title=Mark E. Clayton|publisher=ussearch.com|accessdate=August 16, 2012}}</ref>

==References==

==References==