The Gibbons Factor

By Kleinheider Posted on March 9, 2009 at 2:59 pm

Space and format precluded me from discussing one important dimension of 2010’s GOP gubernatorial primary in the piece in the paper this morning: The Bill Gibbons factor.

While Rep. Wamp, Mayor Haslam, and Lt. Gov. Ramsey are known quantities, Shelby County District Attorney Gibbons is not a household name outside of Big Shelby.

But he may not need to be.

The very fact that Gibbons is the only candidate who hails from West of the Cumberland plateau provides him a path to victory. While Ramsey, Haslam and Wamp may have to battle over money and support in East Tennessee, essentially playing defense, Gibbons can afford to play a bit of offense, assuming his geographic base stays solid, in the battleground of Middle Tennessee.

It is important to remember that 15 percent of the vote in the 2006 Republican Primary came from Shelby and surrounding counties. Democrats may do well in West Tennessee and the rising stars of the new Tennessee Repubiklican Party may seem to come from East and Middle Tennessee, the Western Republican exists and he votes. And Gibbons, the man who regularly nabs upwards of 60 percent of the general electorate in Democratic Shelby County, gets much love from those Republicans.

So while you may not hear as much about him as the other candidates, it could be a mistake to count him out.

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Tags: 2010 Governor's race, Bill Gibbons  

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