Thu
Mar 11 2010
01:36 pm
The Nashville chatterati have spoken...
By: R. Neal

McWherter is the anointed, and this is "good for the party."

OK, then.

Personally, I don't see it. McMillan and McWherter would both be fine governors, I'm sure. And both are vulnerable to getting beat like a rented mule by Haslam, especially in the current political climate.

But with McWherter v. Haslam, what do you get? Businessmen? Check. Rich and influential daddies? Check. Governing experince? Hmmm. McWherter's name might carry some weight, but the Haslam political machine carries large caliber ammunition and big sacks of money.

And with a business-friendly, moderate Republican v. a business-friendly, moderate Democrat, Republicans and independents who mostly lean Republican in Tennessee will go with the real deal every time. Ask Harold Ford, Jr.

At least with McMillan v. Haslam you get a Democratic candidate with actual experience in state government from the House to the Governor's office, and, bonus, a self-made, successful woman. So there would be differentiators, and voters would have a clear choice. Then we could have a real election and let the chips fall where they may.

Topics:
bizgrrl's picture

Yeah!

Submitted by bizgrrl on Thu, 2010/03/11 - 2:04pm.

Yeah!

RigsbyWerner's picture

Ford's recent foray into New York politics proved TN was right

Submitted by RigsbyWerner (not verified) on Thu, 2010/03/11 - 3:06pm.

Ford demonstrated his true political colors once he got to New York and stuck his finger in the voltage currently running through New York politics and his philosophy would have poorly served Tennessee had he been able to knock down Bob Corker, Tom Ingram, Lamar Alexander, and the Haslam political machine. Tall order for any Democrat, even a Ford from Memphis via Washington, Ann Arbor, and more Washington.

WhitesCreek's picture

Ned Ray was a great Governor

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Thu, 2010/03/11 - 3:26pm.

Ned Ray was a great Governor but foisting the mantle on Mike without his earning it will be a huge mistake. I keep asking about his credentials and keep being told he's a "really nice guy."

Oh, great. What else? Having just watched Kim McMillan charm the socks off everyone she met in Roane County I have to point out that Mike has never ever run for office before. Kim beat him at both forums they appeared at and was widely seen as having upped the Republican candidates in Nashville as well.

I wonder if these folks have actually looked around and realized that it is kingmaker politics that have eviscerated the Tennessee Democratic Party?

Andy Axel's picture

This isn't nomination "by

Submitted by Andy Axel on Thu, 2010/03/11 - 3:53pm.

This isn't nomination "by default." This is nomination by fiat.

In other words, what else is new?

I just sound like a skipping record every time I say this, but there really isn't a robust bench strategy, there's not a development plan, there's no primary effort in this primary process.

The reality of the situation is that there is a single statewide elected office in Nashville, and that's the Governor. So there's limited opportunity to bring the DP slate to a broad audience. This is one of those rare times. And, seriously. When is it that the DP is going to drop the scripted outcomes? WWE wrestling is fairer and less predictable.

Y'know, I'd say that at this point, someone like Stacey Campfield would have a far better shot running statewide than someone like Gary Odom, Roy Herron, or any of the fair-haired chillun in the caucus. Why? Name recognition. He may not be smart, but his name is always in the news. Go ask someone who's not a political junkie who Jim Kyle is. (Although, if you ask someone who is a political junkie, bet they can tell you who his daddy is.)

Republicans and independents who mostly lean Republican in Tennessee will go with the real deal every time. Ask Harold Ford, Jr.

Pfft. HaFo would absolutely have run as a Republican if the party would have cleared the primary field for him.

I wonder if these folks have actually looked around and realized that it is kingmaker politics that have eviscerated the Tennessee Democratic Party?

In a word? No.

"That's the way we've always done it."

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

TN Progressive

TN Politics

Knox TN Today

Local TV News

News Sentinel

    State News

    Wire Reports

    Lost Medicaid Funding

    To date, the failure to expand Medicaid/TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding. (Source)

    Search and Archives