NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The man disavowed by the Tennessee Democratic Party to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Corker in November says he's determined to show he's a viable candidate.

The party announced last week that it will not support Democratic nominee Mark Clayton because the 35-year-old belongs to an anti-gay hate group.

Clayton reported raising no money and campaigned little yet received more than 48,000 votes in last Thursday's primary.

Clayton is vice president of Falls Church, Va.-based Public Advocate of the United States, which calls itself a conservative advocacy group. The Southern Poverty Law Center calls the organization an anti-gay hate group.

However, Clayton told The Associated Press on Monday that his supporters don't consider the organization to be a hate group and "like what Public Advocate is doing."