The Bruce Pearl for U.S. Senate rumor mill has cooled in recent weeks. However, the veteran basketball coach has not fully declared one way or the other.
While speculation remains, Pearl was asked on Wednesday's "The Scott Jennings Show" about his interest in running for U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-Auburn) open seat, and the coach questioned whether he could make a difference in Washington, D.C. He also praised President Donald Trump's leadership in foreign policy.
"This world was dying for leadership, and Donald Trump has come in, and he has led.," Pearl told host Scott Jennings. "Our lack of leadership created the situation in Ukraine, it funded Iran and all the terrorism ... thank God nothing happened in Taiwan and China. But if the Democrats held on for another four years, oh my goodness, that could be sitting in our lap right now. President Trump and Republicans have turned that completely around."
"[I] care about this stuff. At the same time, the question is can I also have an impact as a basketball coach? I'm graduating kids. I'm teaching kids. I'm on Auburn's campus, you know I'm ministering, I'm teaching, I'm preaching. I'm on 'The Scott Jennings Show,' right? I'm trying," he explained. "And I don't know that I have to be a senator in order to do that, because there are so many things about Washington that are dysfunctional that I don't know that I could make a difference there."
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