Salt Lake Strategery
Posted on June 25, 2008 at 5:57 pmTom Leatherwood, Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s upstart GOP challenger in the 7th Congressional District, sees a lot to like yesterday in the primary results out of Utah:
I encourage you to take a look at the results in yesterday’s Republican Primary in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District. In that race, the incumbent Republican Congressman was defeated 60% to 40%, despite outspending his challenger by almost $500,000.
This shows that money alone can’t save an incumbent congressman when a challenger has a strong issue working in their favor.
Incumbent Chris Cannon, first elected in 1996, was endorsed by President Bush and both of Utah’s Republican U.S. Senators. Cannon spent more than $760,000 compared to the victorious Jason Chaffetz, who spent just $175,000.
Congressional Quarterly’s on-line report cited “the failure of Cannon to generate the kind of turnout typically enjoyed by House incumbents.” Cannon was criticized for his support of comprehensive immigration reform, an unpopular position in that district.
Here in Tennessee’s 7th District, Blackburn faces a similar challenge. The Leatherwood campaign finds that voters disapprove of incumbent Blackburn’s pattern of violating Federal Election law and her funneling more than $350,000 in campaign funds to family members.
Tom told me that this election sends to Washington the same message he wants to send, “For Republicans to regain our majority, we have to reform the way we do business in Washington. That means holding our own accountable and replacing them when they lose their way.”
Geography also played a role in the Chaffetz victory. He carried Salt Lake County, his home county and the largest in the district, with 63% of the vote. In the 7th District, Leatherwood’s home of Shelby County accounts for more than 50% of the Republican Primary vote in non-gubernatorial years.
Comments
13 Responses to “Salt Lake Strategery”
This really is Leatherwood’s only hope. Pandering to Memphis. He keeps saying what ever he thinks will get him elected. Talking about Memphis. Supporting SCHIP to bring a couple of bucks to the Medical center down there. One step for a candidate…one giant leap toward socialized medicine.
It’s a big district Tom. Don’t forget that
MannyG,
Don’t forget that most votes in that district come from Shelby County. Fayette County is pretty ripe for Leatherwood as well. Even the Memphis morning radio disk jockeys (country) are bashing Blackburn. She needs to start putting some money in to campaigning down here or she will lose by a wide margin there. She will have to make up a lot of ground with Nashville areas.
Surely she is not so cocky that she will ignore Shelby County.
Marsha is the one that will say anything to get elected. She used to have townhall meetings, but when people kept asking why she votes for things like More Debt, for the United Nations, and the like, she STOPPED having town halls (and only have scheduled appointed events)
Here in Fayette county, I do not think she will win, as we KNOW how she votes on issues. We look it up, and don’t listen to what she says, but how she votes.
And:
Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
She is no conservative.
See her unconstitutional votes at my old blog:
http://mickeywhite.blogspot.com
See current info at:
http://bluecollarrepublican.com
Mickey
Rossville TN
“Your comment is awaiting moderation. June 26th, 2008 12:57 pm”
Is this New?
just for you it is!
I feel so special!
Marsha is the one that will say anything to get elected. She used to have townhall meetings, but when people kept asking why she votes for things like More Debt, for the United Nations, and the like, she STOPPED having town halls (and only have scheduled appointed events)
Here in Fayette county, I do not think she will win, as we KNOW how she votes on issues. We look it up, and don’t listen to what she says, but how she votes.
test
Marsha plays pretty well across the whole district and has worked hard for all parts of it. Leatherwood has talked about her not supporting the hospital down there because she voted down SCHIP which would have brought in some research dollars. So he’s going to support socialized medicine for a few thousand dollars? Sounds like his price to be bought is pretty low.
Looking at eh numbers from the 2002 primary, she had over 30% of the vote in 11 counties and 2 counties at 29%. She placed third in Shelby with 22% after two local guys who scored 28% and 24% (Kustoff and Norris). Not exactly overwhelming on either side. She won Fayette by 6% and 14% respectively. She only lost Hardin Chest and McNairy to Taylor so I don’t think winning Shelby is going to win the election for Leatherwood.
http://www.state.tn.us/sos/election/results/2002-8/us-house-rp8-02.pdf
(see page 5 of 7)
Mickey, you’ll only be happy if she sponsors a bill to withdraw us form the UN. We know. We get it.
I am getting real sick of Tom Leatherwood. He sounds just like Obama with CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE. If he stands for change in the republican party why is he using the same style camapign tactics that everyone is fed up with?
The man has no substance. He is an empty shell riding the politcal wake of Congressman Blackburn. I don’t even think people in Memphis will vote for such a one hit wonder!
I think Stanley hit on something earlier. Leatherwood is very Barack Obama sounding. All he talks about is getting rid of the incumbent without voicing his stance. It is a lot of talk, but hes not really saying much. Congressman Blackburn has been a consistent conservative voice for the people of the 7th district. Leatherwood is trying to get liberals and democrats to go vote for him in the primary. Democrats should not pick our Republican leader, republicans should. He has already brought the liberal organization CREW into an election where there is no room for an organization like that. Leatherwood needs to focus his time and attention on himself, rather than the conservative Blackburn representing the voice of her constituents.
What else do you expect from Tom? He’s being backed by Chris Thomas and the rest of the Memphis Courthouse crowd. When they aren’t helping Memphis go from the #3 to the #2 most crime ridden city in the country they are partying with the Ford’s and running around with loose women
What else do you expect from Tom? He’s being backed by Chris Thomas and the rest of the Memphis Courthouse crowd. When they aren’t helping Memphis go from the #3 to the #2 most crime ridden city in the country they are partying it up with the Ford’s and running around town with loose women
I’m pretty disappointed with Tom’s campaign. He’s actually been a thoughtful and effective public servant both in the State Senate and here in Shelby County. His Congressional campaign is shockingly lacking substance, though. His support for S-CHIP is great, since children can’t simply go out and get jobs to pay for their own health insurance. His pandering to the tin-foil hat crowd (those who think the North American Union is real) is troubling, though.