NASHVILLE (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen has said Vice President Mike Pence was "name-calling" in a tweet against him, and wondered if Pence can't think of something better to say than calling him liberal.

The ex-governor told reporters Monday he's unsure how much Pence's tweet counts since Tennesseans will decide the race. Bredesen said he tries to pick ideas throughout the political spectrum.

Pence was in Tennessee to boost Rep. Marsha Blackburn's rival Senate campaign Saturday.

Pence tweeted that Blackburn's opponent is too liberal for Tennessee, supports single-payer health care and wants recent tax cuts repealed.

Bredesen has said he doesn't want the tax law outright repealed, but wants another legislative round to straighten the code out.

Bredesen has said it's too general to declare yourself for or against single-payer.