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Very Slightly, I Would Say

By Kleinheider Posted on May 1, 2009 at 3:10 pm

The Washington Post says the chances of the Democrat’s holding the executive residence in Tennessee has improved:

6. Tennessee (D): Democrats’ chances of holding the Tennessee governorship improved slightly last week when Mike McWherter, the son of legendary Volunteer State Governor Ned Ray McWherter, announced he would seek the state’s top office. Thanks to his well-known last name, McWherter is the favorite in the Democratic primary although it remains to be seen how good a candidate he will be in his own right. Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam remains the frontrunner for the GOP nod and would start a general election with an advantage over any of the Democratic candidates. (Previous ranking: 5)

UPDATE: So do you agree? Is Mike Wherter the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination?

Who is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination?

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Comments

40 Responses to “Very Slightly, I Would Say”

  1. Sean Braisted writes
    May 1st, 2009 3:11 pm

    Huh? Since when is Mike McWherter the “favorite”?

  2. Everyman writes
    May 1st, 2009 3:21 pm

    Since never. Seems like a nice enough guy. But his last name is not a qualification. Don’t know what else he runs on.

    Most folks I know think Herron is the likely nominee. Herron is the most talented– and with the strongest state-wide network. But Cammack could catch fire, though he hasn’t impressed yet. McMillian can’t get any traction.

  3. FrankJ writes
    May 1st, 2009 3:31 pm

    I can’t see both Herron and McWherter staying in the race.
    In reality, the primary will all depend upon who spends the most quality time in Memphis and Nashville churches so they can raise money from moneyed Democrats who have a priority of keeping religion out of our politics.

  4. Susan Wright writes
    May 1st, 2009 4:00 pm

    The Washington Post didn’t even spell Haslam’s name correctly. All they know is that his dad had a huge Oil company so he will have the most money…

    I hope we don’t end up as the state that sold it’s governor’s mansion to the highest bidder.

  5. dan writes
    May 1st, 2009 4:25 pm

    Since the dems have turned to their famous names virtually every time a major position opened up this decade. You’d have to imagine that little Ned Ray is the frontrunner at this moment. Cammack could catch fire with the liberal/progressive crowd in Memphis and Nashville and get the nod. The other guy from Dresden probably does have the strongest network Tom but the economic situation in his district will probably kill his chances.

  6. Crankshaft Martin writes
    May 1st, 2009 6:48 pm

    Since when did Roy Herron get a statewide network? How did he build it? I’ve never seen him do anything. Anything.

    For that matter, what has McWherter done? Sell beer? What else? And it’s been a long time since his dad was governor.

  7. Scooter McRae writes
    May 1st, 2009 7:22 pm

    Only someone that doesn’t live in Tennessee would think Mike McWherter is the great hope for Democrats in 2010. How best to describe McWherter as a candidate? Flaccid?

    As for Herron, somebody wrote that he’s called the “Dresden Disaster.” Sums him up.

  8. ManchesterMarty writes
    May 1st, 2009 7:41 pm

    Looks like Ward Cammack’s hired dude Mark Brown is hoping Ward Cammack will cut him a double paycheck as “Scooter McRae.”

  9. Louie Jones writes
    May 1st, 2009 7:48 pm

    MM - You missed Mark Brown’s triple identity play: check out his back-to-back posting as Scooter McRae AND as Crankshaft Martin. Busy boy…

  10. Charles Rumden writes
    May 1st, 2009 8:17 pm

    The Washington Post obviously hasn’t spent much time in Tennessee recently. Are we really calling Haslam the front runner just because he has a billion dollars? That’s not going to work for me. Haslam is boring and comes across as unintelligent- Zach Wamp is the only candidate in the race that deserves to be called the “front runner” for either side.

  11. autoegocrat writes
    May 1st, 2009 8:37 pm

    Jim Kyle, Kim, and Ward are the only serious candidates on that list. Mike McWherter is going to get pwned in Big Shelby.

  12. autoegocrat writes
    May 1st, 2009 8:51 pm

    Responding to the comments above: I could be totally wrong about Herron, but I just don’t see it. I do know for sure that Memphians are tired of dynasties, and McWherter’s name is as much a liability here as it is an asset. In case no one noticed, we’ve figured that one out.

    Most people like to believe that, with enough effort and hard work, their children could become governor one day, and absent anything else, McWherter’s candidacy sort of pisses all over that idea, doesn’t it?

  13. Summer of George writes
    May 1st, 2009 9:21 pm

    Zach Wamp is the only candidate in the race that deserves to be called the “front runner” for either side.

    By frontrunner, did you mean first to drop out? Zach Wamp is Van Hilleary, Part Deux.

  14. J. Welch writes
    May 1st, 2009 9:47 pm

    By frontrunner, did you mean first to drop out? Zach Wamp is Van Hilleary, Part Deux.

    Yep.

  15. JohnnyC writes
    May 2nd, 2009 12:09 am

    McMillan should have as good a shot as any to get some key Democratic groups- women, labor, teachers, govt employees. She’s had the highest political job in the bunch as majority leader. If she can get some money, she’ll be in the top two.

  16. Scooter McRae writes
    May 2nd, 2009 5:50 am

    Marty, wtf are you talking about? I’m talking about the fact that Roy Herron is a career politician and Mike McWherter thinks he ought to be governor because people like his dad. Neither is qualified. You’re talking about somebody I’ve never heard of.

    Why don’t you try to give me one reason I ought to vote for Herron or McWherter?

  17. Bald Spot writes
    May 2nd, 2009 8:21 am

    McWherter is the frontrunner? He’s boring, he’s sissy, he can’t raise money. Yeah, real front runner.

  18. CHARLOTTE GORDON writes
    May 2nd, 2009 12:02 pm

    My vote for the Democratic primary for Tennessee Governor is Roy Herron. Thanks.

  19. Barbara writes
    May 2nd, 2009 12:21 pm

    I think McMillan might be an ok gov, but Cammack’s last couple of interviews show he gets that environmental concerns and business success don’t have to be at odds with each other, which is something I’ve been waiting a long time for our politicians to grasp. Seems like he has a really detailed understanding… or he’s at least done a better job of explaining it. Barring any surprises, he’s my pick in the primary.

  20. Walter Smith writes
    May 2nd, 2009 3:20 pm

    Haslam is a dumb daddy’s boy!
    I’m liking Ward Cammack………he appears the smartest but in TN politics that doesn’t count for much if you’ve been keeping up with our State House and State Senate!
    This should be a good race!

  21. Hugh Tobin writes
    May 2nd, 2009 3:39 pm

    I vote for Ward Cammack!

  22. Barbara writes
    May 2nd, 2009 4:17 pm

    Walter, don’t count out the smart guys- we got Bredesen in there, didn’t we?

  23. Scooter McRae writes
    May 2nd, 2009 5:33 pm

    Good point, Barbara. Agree with them or disagree, Bredesen, Corker, and Alexander are all “smart guys.” Frist was a doctor. Smart guys can win in Tennessee.

  24. Ruth writes
    May 2nd, 2009 5:46 pm

    I like Ward Cammack in the primary.

  25. Dickinson B writes
    May 2nd, 2009 7:18 pm

    Name recognition is certainly useful, but Cammack’s the one with the substance. Fiscal conservative, strong economics skills (this has been critical for candidates all along, but most voters just woke up to realize it), and an agenda to spur TN growth in the right directions.

  26. Crankshaft Martiin writes
    May 2nd, 2009 10:57 pm

    Who the hell is McWherter? This guy has zero qualifications.

  27. Naoko writes
    May 3rd, 2009 1:40 pm

    At a recent conference I heard all 4 of the announced Democrats speak. Ward Cammack sounded the most knowledgeable and demonstrated leadership. If I were ranking the 4, I’d say McMillan is 2nd, and Herron & McWherter would share the last place…actually I thought both were extremely boring and out of touch.

  28. Brenda Ables writes
    May 3rd, 2009 5:15 pm

    I don’t understand anyone seriously saying that Roy Herron is boring. He is a very dynamic and motivational speaker. Very smart with a record of service to TN. He is a lot like Harold Ford Jr. was on the campaign trail, everyone who talked with him one on one voted for him. If he gets out there and meets the voters he will win.

  29. ManchesterMarty writes
    May 3rd, 2009 6:20 pm

    Hype: definition, “artificial enthusiasm.”

    Looks like one paid campaign staffer is trying to create HYPE for his boss, Ward Cammack, by posting on this string under multiple different names — AND by cranking out votes on ACK’s easily-manipulated straw poll above.

    “Crankshaft Martin” and “Scooter McRae” and “Bald Spot” and “Barbara” and “Walter Smith” and “Ruth” and “Dickinson B” and “Naoko”…

    all sound suspiciously like the same person, Ward Cammack’s recently hired political/communication director:

    http://www.knoxviews.com/node/10858

    Watch for it: the Cammack campaign will laughably hype Ward’s “commanding straw-poll lead” in ACK’s easily-manipulated poll.

    In fact, the leading item on Ward’s website is now “Vote for Ward - Poll at Nashville Post.”

  30. MilquetoastMarty writes
    May 3rd, 2009 7:22 pm

    Cammack won two polls, Marty, this one and KnoxViews. In both, he got over twice as many votes as the second place finisher. What’s your excuse for that? One campaign staffer? Doesn’t seem plausible.

    Sounds more like you’re a campaign staffer for one of the other candidates and you’re whining because you got beat.

  31. ManchesterMarty writes
    May 3rd, 2009 8:13 pm

    Thanks, “Milquetoast”, for confirming my prediction that the Cammack campaign would soon begin hyping its “wins” in easily manipulated blog “polls.”

  32. MilquetoastMarty writes
    May 3rd, 2009 8:42 pm

    I’m not with any campaign, Marty. I’m just pointing out your whiny loser’s limp. “Oh, wah, Cammack won two polls.” Then you bitch because the Cammack website directs supporters to the polls.

    In other words, Marty, you have your panties in a twist because the Cammack campaign did it’s job. What a baby.

  33. Scooter McRae writes
    May 3rd, 2009 9:08 pm

    People are still voting for Cammack. Oh, poor Marty. She’s gonna cry . . . cry, cry, cry. 96 tears . . . cry, cry, cry.

  34. Barbara writes
    May 3rd, 2009 9:38 pm

    It’s the battle of the Martys! I’m glad there’s just one of me :)

    So apparently liking what any candidate has to say means you are a secret staffer? Does this mean the Post has no actual readership?? Just random campaign staffers? That’s no way to run a railroad.

  35. Scooter McRae writes
    May 3rd, 2009 9:51 pm

    With the amount of crying Marty’s doing because the Cammack campaign put out a call for supporters on their website, it certainly sounds like the big baby works for one of the other campaigns. I guess her little fanny is smarting from that spanking she got in two polls.

  36. Louie Jones writes
    May 3rd, 2009 9:59 pm

    Ha-Ha! ManchesterMarty hit a nerve big-time with the Cammack staffer(s).

  37. Scooter McRae writes
    May 3rd, 2009 10:17 pm

    Hey, ManchesterLouie, check that vote. You’re down 2-to-1. Are your little butt cheeks still stinging?

    I also find it interesting that you haven’t offered a single reason anyone should support your candidate of choice. Nothing to say?

  38. ManchesterMarty writes
    May 3rd, 2009 10:57 pm

    I love it where Ward Cammack’s hired dude says, “to borrow from Mayor Dean, it’s all connected.”

    Because where did that phrase come from? Ward’s hired Internet playa, Murphy Putnam Media — who can easily gin up 120 “votes” or so to skew a blogger poll like ACK’s.

    Keep swinging and flinging, Cammack staffer(s). I am sure your boss, the Wardster, who is a decent guy for a recent heavy-Republican-contributor-who-now-is-running-as-a-Democrat-and-drives-a-Prius-with-an-Obama-sticker, is totally impressed with your crude, immature responses.

    By the way, have you disclosed to Ward that those Cammack-adoring words of praise in the above string have come from your paid keyboard(s)?

  39. Louie Jones writes
    May 3rd, 2009 11:16 pm

    Oops, Manchester Marty, you called WARD Cammack a Republican contributor, but if you check the campaign contribution records, the heavy Republican contributor is WILLIAM Cammack, who gave to Bob Corker, Van Hilleary, and Lamar Alexander.

    You need to be a little more careful before accusing WARD Cammack of pumping his personal $$ to Tennessee GOP candidates.

  40. Ben writes
    May 4th, 2009 7:01 am

    Surprisingly strong showings early from Cammack. Obviously scared the beejeezus out of some old guard Democrats by the way they are trying to attack him on this thread. Interesting that they’re going after his media firm rather than addressing ideas. Do they not realize that they look frightened and jealous that Cammack is organized and their candidates aren’t?

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