Nashville, TN - Van Hilleary candidate for Tennessee’s U.S. Senate seat today called on his fellow conservative opponent Ed Bryant to join him in a “conservative truce”. Hilleary emphasized the importance of electing a sincere conservative to the U.S. Senate and of mutually refraining from campaign attacks on fellow conservatives. Hilleary is optimistic Bryant will agree.

“We are at a point in our nation’s history where it is critical that we elect a solid sincere conservative to the United States Senate. In this primary all three candidates sound conservative but the truth is only Ed Bryant and I have conservative records to match our words. Bob Corker on the other hand, sounds conservative but his record is anything but conservative. Bob Corker has raised taxes, run for the U.S. Senate as a pro-abortion rights candidate, is supported by the pro-income tax wing of the Party and has a history of supporting democrats and of voting in Democrat primaries,” said Hilleary. “Unfortunately for Tennesseans, Bob does have enough resources to deceive voters into believing he is something he is not. That is why I feel it is important that Ed Bryant join me in pledging to focus our campaigns on spreading our own conservative messages and educating Tennesseans about the real Bob Corker and his record. I hope Ed will agree.”

Below is a text of the letter sent to Ed Bryant:

Dear Ed:

Over the years I have grown to respect and admire your commitment to the conservative cause and your steadfast character. You are dedicated a public servant, a true conservative and an honorable man. I am privileged to be able to consider you my friend.

Tennesseans are looking to fill Senator Bill Frist’s open seat with a genuine leader and a solid conservative- who will tell the truth… do the right things for the right reasons… and tackle the big issues

I know that you agree that it is vital for Tennessee’s next U.S. Senator be a solid conservative who believes in conservative principles, tells the truth and will represent our values in Washington

You and I are the only two candidates in this primary who have the conservative credentials and core beliefs we must have in our next U.S. Senator. Bob Corker’s record proves he is not a conservative - despite what he says in his ads.

The fact is Bob increased taxes on Tennesseans by millions of dollars; Bob refused to oppose a state income tax; Bob supported Democrats; Bob previously ran for the U.S. Senate as a pro-abortion rights candidate; and Bob is currently supported by liberal labor union bosses, Democrats, Don Sundquist and the pro-income tax wing of the Republican Party.

Bob Corker is not a conservative, but he plays one on TV!

You and I spent eight incredible years in Washington fighting tirelessly for conservative values, balancing budgets, lowering taxes and protecting this great nation of ours. The work we started must continue.

It has become abundantly clear that Bob Corker is going to try to buy this election by covering up his record and spending millions of dollars to convince voters he’s something he is not. That is flat wrong. Bob Corker is not a conservative and he is not what we need in the U.S. Senate.

I am asking you to join me in pledging that in these closing months our campaigns we will not attack one another - a “conservative truce” if you will. If we are disciplined and focus our full attention on conveying our conservative messages and records to voters and together inform Republicans about the REAL Bob Corker’s record, Tennessee’s next United States Senator will be a conservative and Corker will be defeated.

Let’s come together for the good of the cause - running hard on our own merits and “focusing our fire” only on the candidate who does not share our mutual conservative philosophy, Bob Corker.

I look forward to your positive response. I know that together, we can do right by Tennessee.

Warmest Regards,

Van