Washington Prowler
Tea Party Tennessee
A big money effort is afoot to neutralize the grassroots appeal of gubernatorial candidate Zach Wamp.
The Tennessee gubernatorial primary is six months away, but things are already heating up in a race where Republicans can take another statehouse back from the Democrats. More importantly to conservatives, the race is pitting a classic, grassroots conservative, Congressman Zach Wamp, against moderate to liberal establishment Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, who is banking on family name recognition and family money to carry him over the finish line.
Haslam has committed untold millions of his family money in what up until a couple weeks ago was considered a mediocre campaign. He held a disastrous press briefing in Nashville late last year where he was unable to state a clear position on any of the issues reporters asked him to comment on, and has thus far refused to release his federal tax returns as other candidates have. A now-famous YouTube video only exacerbated the perception that Haslam was not ready for a promotion beyond mayor or a job back at his father's business.
Then, a week before the Winter Olympics, Haslam's campaign guru, Tom Ingram, unveiled a splashy TV ad featuring the candidate and others walking around Tennessee with big red umbrellas, raising comparisons to either Citigroup or Mary Poppins advertisements. Regardless, the ad, which Haslam ran during the Olympics at a cost of almost a million dollars, is memorable. Haslam continues to trail Wamp in most polls, but almost immediately, as Haslam opened his checkbook for the ad buys, friendly media outlets began touting Haslam's perceived momentum and portraying him as the presumptive winner in the GOP primary.
Beyond Wamp, who has led most polls for months, Tennessee's Republican lieutenant governor, Ron Ramsey and local district attorney Bill Gibbons, are also seeking the nomination. Ramsey is popular with among some conservatives and members of the state party establishment, and Gibbons has been a feisty campaigner.
But in a state where the tea party movement has strong roots -- Nashville has been the epicenter of several grassroots conservative and tea party conferences over the past year -- many national conservatives believe Wamp has out-worked Haslam and the rest of the field.
"Bill believes a checkbook and some name recognition of the family name will get you two-thirds of the way to the nomination," says a long-time observer of Tennessee politics. "I'd compare Haslam's approach this year to [Harold] Ford's Senate run a few years ago. I think most folks are ready for some new blood." Harold Ford, Jr. ran a lackluster campaign for the Senate in 2006, in which he had superior name recognition and actually led in a number of polls throughout the campaign against Republican Bob Corker. But Ford was perceived not to be working the campaign trail terribly hard, and in the end lost the race by less than three percentage points.
The presumed Democrat nominee in the gubernatorial race is businessman Mike McWherter, who is also being challenged by state senator Jim Kyle and former state legislator Kim McMillan. And some Democrats say they are actually working to help Haslam overcome the energy behind Wamp to give their man a better shot at the governor's mansion. "Given where things are going politically around the country, the state party would prefer Haslam over Wamp," says a DNC media consultant. "Wamp has worked hard on the grassroots and tea party types over the past few months and has the energy there. Haslam is running your typical Republican, establishment campaign. We'll take that over the tea-bagger grassroots types this election cycle."
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JimH| 2.23.10 @ 8:06AM
I guess to his friends Zach is the Wamp fox. And to his foes the Wamp rat.
Ryan| 2.23.10 @ 9:51AM
Star Wars fans HAVE to make the puns, don't we...
loulou| 2.23.10 @ 12:44PM
Puns are thought to be the lowest form of humor. Hardee har har.
Ryan| 2.23.10 @ 1:34PM
Meh, there's a certain amount of cleverness that comes with puns. There's more base stuff that passes as humor on modern sitcoms.
annan| 2.24.10 @ 4:49AM
er~
I agree with you
http://www.udtek.com
Loadmaster| 2.23.10 @ 9:00AM
The TN GOP has been known to recruit candidates that can bankroll their own campaign but not necessarily the idea candidate to win a race. A prime example is the Bob Corker Senate campaign. Corker had the money plus a 3 candidate race between Corker, Van Hillary and Ed Bryant help elect Corker. Van pulled some votes from Ed but Corker was able to put his own money in the race to pull ahead in the primary. Ed was the idea conservative candidate but was not able to out spend Corker and Van was the spoiler. The current GOP Governors primary is no different. Zack might be the "idea" candidate but here in TN..money walks and talks. The 2008 4th District GOP Congressional race followed the same pattern. Money didn't get us a GOP win. All it did was keep the most attractive candidates out of the general election and a shoe in for the Dem's.
Sad to say that's TN GOP politics for you.
Northern Rebel| 2.23.10 @ 9:02AM
Gubenatorial races are important, because their secretary of state has their fingers on both state, and federal elections.
It has been one of ACORN'S goals to control the state secretaries, so they can influence (cheat) elections.
Don't fall prey to Obama's scum, Tennessee!
loulou| 2.23.10 @ 12:46PM
Which is precisely why Tim Pawlenty is not fit to be president.
He allowed ACORN to steal Norm Coleman's senate seat for Al Franken. He twiddled his thumbs while imaginary votes were counted.
Magic Eight Ball| 2.23.10 @ 9:42AM
Northern Rebel, our Secretary of State in Tennessee is chosen by the General Assembly. Lo and behold we got a Republican when we got a Republican dominated General Assembly. There is no chance that the Democrats will retake control of the General Assembly this election.
Moreover, with the exception of Shelby County, we tend to have clean elections here.
Alan| 2.23.10 @ 10:25AM
Wamp top 3 job pursuits after gov race to maintain Washington lifestyle:
1- Tell all book about C Street pact.
2- Lobbyist for strip mining industry.
3- Hand puppeteer to capitalize on animated hands.
4- Utilize campaign bus for travel Tennessee TV show.
Yosemeti Sam| 2.23.10 @ 11:03AM
Re column - "Is our Children Learning?"
To American Spectator:
Appears I strike Liberal/Leftist nerves.
Do you or do you not validate email addresses
with posts?
You let an asshole - pardon the shorthand -
speak as if he were me.
Get your AS act together!
Do you have hacker firewalls - at all?
If not - moving on!
AS Webmaster - what's up with this compromise?
Pingback| 2.23.10 @ 12:54PM
The American Spectator : Tea Party Tennessee links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 2.23.10 @ 12:54PM
The American Spectator : Tea Party Tennessee links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Wil| 2.23.10 @ 1:45PM
In what polls is Wamp leading?
molonlabe28| 2.23.10 @ 2:01PM
Prowler-
You and your unnamed sources know nothing about the Tn gubenatorial race.
Zach Wamp lost the conservatives in this state by voting for TARP.
I have followed and respected Zach Wamp for the last 16 years, I knew him in college and I thought that he was a very good Congrssman until he (along with McCain and Obama, I might add) voted for TARP in 2008.
He lost me with that utter betrayal of conservative priciples.
And, rightly or wrongly, the race is Bill Haslam's to lose.
I don't know what polls your unnamed sources are citing, but it is highly likely that Bill Haslam will be our next governor.
And he has been an outstanding Mayor of Knoxville, where I have lived for the last 26 years.
And he doesn't have a TARP vote hanging around his neck.
Your comments about Harold Ford, Jr. not being a hard campaigner are equally unfounded.
He gave it his best shot and was the only candidate out of 13 new Democratic senatorial candidates to lose in 2006, notwithstanding the Newsweek edition with Jr. on the cover which came out 10 days before the election.
You have a great website, but you are missing the boat on this election.
Aaron Margulies| 3.3.10 @ 10:30PM
I doi not know why you are dumping Zach Wamp because of the TARP vote. I agree that to support TARP was wrong, but it was not based on anti-COnservative beliefs. TARAP was voted on in truly extraordinary times when limited information was available. I am willing to forgive any vote on TARP because many still believe that the country would have financially collapsed without TARP. DO no throw the baby out with the bath water. Zach is a good conservative and he needs our support. Mr. Haslam is also a good candidate and they both need to be looked at closely. Just please, do not disregard Mr. Wamp just because he voted for TARP. Teach him a lesson; talk to him about why he was wrong. Remember, he voted against Health Care. He has voted against CAp and Trade.
Pingback| 2.23.10 @ 2:57PM
A Patriot’s Fight links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
ConservativeMD| 2.23.10 @ 3:45PM
In response to Wil's question, what poll is Wamp not leading? Every poll I have seen around the state has Wamp leading by margins as large as 2:1 over Haslem. And it may be Haslem's race to lose because he has more money but it is not because he is the better candidate, that is clearly Wamp, he has the vision and enthusiasm this state needs right now and in the future, and if you disagree then I would encourage you to watch the videos on their websites and the debate in Nashville.
Pingback| 2.23.10 @ 5:10PM
Dunn & Tuke Go Green, Defend TDEC | Humphrey on the Hill … | Tennessee Real Estate links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Robin| 2.23.10 @ 7:42PM
Produce one poll my friend. The only poll that Zack has won was a straw poll in Jackson, where he was the only candidate present. Then there are the commissioned polls.
Wamp's and "the family" at C Street stories are the buzz, remined me of the 60's parties.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXsO6i9-4Mg
Rick| 2.23.10 @ 11:35PM
This article must have been written by Wamp's campaign manager or his Dad. I truly like Wamp but this article is fiction. The fact that it leaves Ramsey as only a sidenote is proof enough that it is bogus. I won't vote for Ramsey but he is in the race and possibly ahead of Wamp and definitely ahead of Gibbons. However, Haslam is out front. Tennessee has a governor now that was mayor of Nashville. Haslam is a successful mayor of Knoxville. Two of Tennessee's largest cities. It IS Haslam's race to lose. But if the media keeps pushing Ramsey to the side, there may be a Ramsey as governor not merely LT. Governor.
Pingback| 2.24.10 @ 1:49AM
Tennessee Titans – Logo Beanie | Tennessee Titans NFL Announcer links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 2.24.10 @ 3:12AM
The American Spectator : Tea Party Tennessee | Tennessee Real Estate links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Tom Degan| 2.24.10 @ 7:17AM
So I guess the writing is on the wall; the Democrats are going to get hammered on Election Day, right? I wouldn't be too sure about that. There are far too many monkey wrenches that are ready to be thrown into this engine. The most amusing thing to observe during the CPAC orgy last Thursday was their subtle attempt to disassociate themselves from the so-called "Tea Party Movement" without flatly rejecting it. What is going on here?
Here's what's going on: The cooler heads within the Republican National Committee know damned well that the Tea Partiers are a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode. It's not merely the fact that most of these people are dumber than doggy dung, it is also the ugly reality that so much (although not all) of that movement is based on the nasty philosophy that has embodied the white supremacist movement for decades. You could hear it in the remarks made by the protesters at the September 12, "March on Washington". You could see it in the signs they carried. Most of these twits refuse to even acknowledge the fact that the president of the United States is an American citizen!
Like Neville Chamberlain appeasing der fuhrer at the Munich conference in 1938, the RNC is frantically searching for a "peace in our time" moment. They have quite a dilemma before them to be sure. On the one hand they need to keep these jackasses "inside the tent pissing out" - so to speak. On the other hand they have to avoid alienating the moderates. Like the demented uncle living in the attic, they must do everything humanly possible to make sure that any contact with the neighborhood kids is limited if you know what I mean.
The Tea Party people are already claiming credit for Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts a couple weeks ago. They are determined to steer the course of the GOP in November, come hell or high water. If they are allowed control of the party, their extremism will only turn off a huge segment of the voting population. If they are denied that opportunity, they will splinter off into third and even fourth party uprisings. Have you ever watched an elephant try to walk a tightrope? It's more fun than a barrel of donkeys.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
Pingback| 2.24.10 @ 8:16PM
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Osamas Pajamas| 2.25.10 @ 12:10AM
I'm for Zack Wamp, he's a mensch, he's got the ideas, the energy, the cojones --- and a REEEEELY cool name. Get in the way of the tax rebellion, and ---- WAMP! You're toast! Yeeeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
Osamas Pajamas| 2.25.10 @ 12:20AM
Yep, pay attention to Tom Degan, his remarks above. Don't assume that the rebels will automatically route the Democrats. ACORN has changed its name and gone into hiding in chameleon skins --- but from every level of American government, these bloodsuckers are still sucking up the taxes of the privately-employed taxpayers --- and using those dollars AGAINST those taxpayers, to steal more votes and hijack more elections. The Democrats and Republicans who funded these election-theft racketeers should be in jail! Crawl over broken glass to vote in 2010 and 2012. Crawl over the broken bodies of anyone who tries to stop you or to hijack your vote. And scream bloody murder if the election hijackers try to prevent the full counting of the military votes --- or guys and guys are not overseas and in harm's way so that cheap lying thugs like OhBummer and the OhBummer Wrecking Crew can hijack their birthrights at home while our armed forces are getting shot at and bombed, abroad. Oh. And overthrow the media. Pepper them with questions they don't want to hear at every opportunity, questions that tyhey don't want ANYONE ELSE to hear. Show them no mercy, drive them to the wall, give them no quarter, a la Andy Breitbart!
Pingback| 2.25.10 @ 3:42AM
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6 Fascinating Stories Behind the Names of Six NFL Teams | Waste … | Tennessee Titans links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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In all fairness to Bill Haslam links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Tennessee Titans T Shirt : Reebok Tennessee Titans Light Blue Upgrade T Shirt | Tenne links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Jon B| 3.12.10 @ 8:54PM
I wonder how many people here are actually aware of the fact that the Boston Tea Party was not about high taxes? The Tea Act of 1773 made Tea from the East India company so cheap that it threatened to put colonial merchants out of business. Another reason is that the Townsend program took money made from the Tea and paid some of the colonial Governor's salaries with it: Corporate control in a sense. Yet today Tea Partiers are protesting tax cuts for 95% of Americans and the rebuilding of the infrastructure Bush gutted...Amazing hypocrisy to misuse the original tea party for a purpose directly against it's intent..Amazing. Instead of serving Americans, today's Tea Partiers gleefully fight against them and support corporations instead.
"Colonial merchants, some of them smugglers, played a significant role in the protests. Because the Tea Act made legally imported tea cheaper, it threatened to put smugglers of Dutch tea out of business.."
Signage Los Angeles| 7.30.10 @ 12:56PM
The election still is six days away, but right-wing radio hero Steve Gill already is making excuses for movement conservatives. Do you think he can read the handwriting on the wall? In this week’s Scene cover story on the Republican governor's race, Gill claims it’s not ideology that’s bringing down Zach Wamp and Ron Ramsey—it’s money.
Signage Los Angeles
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