Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Gave Extensively To Republicans
Posted on February 23, 2009 at 8:09 am
It would appear that the Tennessee Democratic Party’s new treasurer is not the only Democrat of note with a history of contributing money to both Democratic and Republican causes.
Post Politics has learned that Ward Cammack, one of two Democrats actively campaigning to succeed Governor Phil Bredesen in 2010, has given to a myriad of Tennessee Republican candidates starting in 1979 with a donation to Senator Howard Baker’s 1980 Presidential run.
While Cammack has supported Congressman Jim Cooper with financial donations steadily throughout his career, a large majority of his donations have gone to Tennessee Republican candidates for federal office. In 1994, the year of the Republican Revolution, Cammack gave extensively to both Bill Frist and Fred Thompson who were victorious in grabbing both of Tennessee’s U.S. Senate seats that year.
Cammack also gave heavily to Lamar Alexander contributing to both his Presidential run in 1996 as well as his initial 2002 Senate run. In 2008, Cammack gave heavily to Alexander’s opponent Bob Tuke.
Cammack’s most recent Republican donation was in late 2005 when he contributed $500 to Bob Corker’s 2006 Senate primary campaign though Cammack tells Post Politics he ultimately voted for Corker’s opponent Harold Ford, Jr.
In discussing his party shift, Cammack cannot point to any “Road to Damacus” moment but admits that he is “clearly a convert” to the Democratic cause and credits the Bush years for his shift in worldview.
“Everything has changed. A lot of things people thought they had to protect, be it money or a set of so-called moral beliefs, have proved illusory,” Cammack explains. “All we really have is each other.”
Cammack, whose first Democratic vote for President was cast last fall for Barack Obama, said it was the exclusionary tactics of the GOP which led him to begin to question the staunch Republicanism he had learned as a child.
“Eventually you just have to ask: What is this all about? Why are we marginalizing people like this?” Cammack explains.
When asked whether he could pinpoint whether it was Republican policies on social issues, economic issues or foreign policy that ultimate let to his conversion, Cammack was unequivocal.
“All of the above,” replied Cammack.
Cammack does expect that some may be skeptical of his political past but insists that the Democratic Party is a “very comfortable skin for him.”
“Yes, I have given [money] to Republicans in the past and I have voted for Republicans in the past. I have never tried to hide that,” Cammack says. “But if you ask me if I believe in the Democratic Party, the answer is yes. Yes, I do.”
SEE ALSO: The Rotunda asks: “[I]s there a prominent Democrat expanding the tent of the party to reach the affluent white guys like Ward Cammack and Bill Freeman?”
Ya Gotta Have Faith: Tim McGraw Serious About Gubernatorial Run?
Posted on December 10, 2008 at 7:39 amThe New Republic thinks the Tennessee Democratic Party may have no other choice but to heavily recruit and back the country singer:
He’s been floating the idea for a few years now, but with the recent thrashing of lawyer Bob Tuke by Lamar Alexander in last month’s senate race, Tennessee Dems have been casting about desperately for a high-profile Democrat not named Harold Ford to take on Bill Frist, who is almost certainly going to run. And they could do a lot worse, I suppose, than the Indian Outlaw. Which is saying something.
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Alexander’s Capture Of The Black Vote
Posted on November 14, 2008 at 11:03 amThe New York Times makes note:
“What people were listening for in this election is, what are you going to do about my pocketbook, my health insurance, my electric bill,” said Mr. Alexander, a former governor and presidential candidate who is seeking to return as the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. “We need to step back and fundamentally change the way we talk about issues and be focused more on what we can do to help the country rather than what we can do to help the Republican Party.”
While colleagues like Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina were coming out on the losing end in part because of a strong African-American vote for their opponents, Mr. Alexander, who had a record of appointing blacks to government and education positions, was able to win about 26 percent of the black vote.
Now Jeff Woods can downplay this if he likes but Lamar Alexander’ ability to ciphon off this percentage of the black vote in this political climate with a black man atop the Democratic ticket and his former Tennessee political director running against him is an impressive achievement.
Woods is correct that Tuke did not mount much of a campaign but because of that Alexander could have just sat back back and coasted to reelection. Instead, he took the opportunity to take the GOP brand to the black community and create a lot of Obama/Alexander split tickets.
It’s something deserving of at least grudging political respect, if not outright kudos.
Lamar Alexander’s “Acts”: The Middle Reliever
Posted on October 15, 2008 at 7:40 pmFollowing up on the theme present in the political ad opus “Find the Good and Praise It” from earlier in the year, Lamar Alexander has released a new political ad called simply “Acts.” The ad will replace “Good” currently running statewide and will be replaced with an as yet unannounced “closer” ad that will take the Alexander campaign through election day.
Created by frequent Republican admeister Fred Davis of Strategic Perception, “Acts” will run starting tomorrow until the 26th of this month. The buy is said to be “at-least 1,000 points.”
The ad, voiced by Alexander, is meant to remind Tennesseans that while things may be bad out there sometimes, there’s still a lot to feel good about.
“We sense an eagerness out there by people to be reminded of the good by our public officials,” said Tom Ingram, Alexander’s Chief-of-Staff, regarding the ad.
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Bob Tuke’s Radio Ad
Posted on October 5, 2008 at 1:30 pmTerry Frank reports on what Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bob Tuke has so far to go up against this action in his race against Lamar Alexander.
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Find The Lamar And Have Steve Cropper Praise Him
Posted on October 4, 2008 at 11:58 pmBob Tuke’s campaign for U.S. Senate has long asserted that one of its hidden advantages in its long shot bid to defeat Lamar Alexander was that many voters in Tennessee were either not born or not in Tennessee while Lamar Alexander was Governor.
Tuke’s assertion was that while many Tennesseans see Lamar as an icon who transcends party, there was a large swarth of new voters who really don’t know who Lamar Alexander is who are open to suggestion.
Well, starting Monday, the Alexander for Senate Campaign is gonna drop some coin to go ahead and get those voters, too. Ya, know just to see if they can’t just completely run up the score.
The ad was produced by McCain creative director “Hollywood” Fred Davis of “Celeb” ad fame and narrated by legendary guitarist Steve Cropper.
Erik Schelzig has more on the ad which continues Alexander’s “Find the Good and Praise It” theme from earlier in the cycle.
New MTSU Poll: 22% Of Hillary Supporters Will Vote For McCain
Posted on September 29, 2008 at 11:39 amAccording to a new poll, in a state which Hillary Clinton won the Democratic primary by a commanding percentage and which includes a large swath of those conservative Appalachian voters, Barack Obama still has trouble in the race against John McCain:
The McCain campaign seems to have had modest success at attracting supporters of former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, whom 22 percent of Tennesseans say they voted for in the Democratic primary. A quarter of those who voted for the junior senator from New York in Tennessee’s Democratic presidential primary say that they would now vote for McCain and Palin in the general election. However, 56 percent of those who report that they voted for Clinton in the primary say that they would now vote for Obama and Biden. The rest of Clinton’s supporters remain undecided at this point or say they would vote for someone other than McCain or Obama.
In state politics, Republican also enjoy an advantage:
Fully 47 percent of Tennesseans are satisfied with the direction the state is going, but only 34 percent of Democrats are satisfied compared with 59 percent of Republicans and independents.
Lamar Alexander, as expected, polls well in his race versus Bob Tuke:
Republican incumbent Sen. Lamar Alexander outpolls Democratic challenger Bob Tuke 50 percent to 26 percent among likely voters in Tennessee’s race for U.S. Senate, but about a fourth (23 percent) say they aren’t yet sure whom they favor.
A plurality of Tennesseans want more church in their state:
Fully 41 percent of Tennesseans think politicians say too little about religion, while 26 percent say the amount is about right, and 23 percent say there is too much religious talk.
View entire report here. Press release available here.
SEE ALSO: Grantham is Talking
The Informed Vote: Tuke Makes Gains On Alexander
Posted on September 26, 2008 at 2:42 pmThe U.S. Senate campaign of Bob Tuke has released a new poll that reveals that after their pollster gets done telling voters a whole bunch of glowing info about Mr. Tuke, he still loses to Lamar — but only by a little:
Just three percentage points – well within the margin of sampling error – separate Tuke and Alexander in a revote asked after voters hear brief biographical information about Bob Tuke. Tuke garners 43% vote support to Alexander’s 46%. Tuke expands his lead over the incumbent with African-Americans and white Democrats, as well as with liberal and moderate whites. Better still, Tuke gains a lead with independent whites of both genders.
Gore To Host Fundraiser For Tuke
Posted on September 18, 2008 at 8:13 amFrom Eric Schelzig:
The Oct. 10 fundraiser at Gore’s home in the upscale Belle Meade neighborhood will cost $1,000 per person. A special reception before will be held for those who give $2,300 and groups can be named host committees by giving at least $5,000.
Gore lauded Tuke’s military service as a Marine in Vietnam when he endorsed him last month.
Somebody Forgot To Explain The Rules To The Eatons
Posted on September 4, 2008 at 7:37 amJohn Eaton, son of failed Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kenneth Eaton, continues his post-primary assault on the Democratic nominee accusing him of a making a belligerent phone call to his father during the campaign:
[H]im calling my father and saying he was a “low life lying son of a bitch” while my father was trying to explain our press release to him, SCREAMING into the phone like a crazy person… And the Dem’s fell for it. Enjoy your crazy candidate. I hope you all read this again when he starts his run for governor soon…
Eatons Still Tukin’ Ticked Off About Primary Loss
Posted on September 3, 2008 at 6:23 amKenneth Eaton may have gone down to defeat in the Tennessee Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate but that doesn’t mean his son John is giving up the fight anytime soon:
I believe Bob Tuke is wasting our time and hopes by running against Lamar for Senate. Just like during the Primary, he is not actively campaigning. Mr. Tuke is testing to waters to run as a replacement for Governor Bredesen.
Nice to know that Tennessee has that great of a candidate; screwing the state out of logical representation on the federal level, to see how well he would do in a race for the governor’s seat.
Gore Wants You To Open Up Your Wallets For Tuke
Posted on August 18, 2008 at 4:11 pmOn Bob Tuke’s diary page at Daily Kos, Al Gore takes his endorsement of U.S. Senate candidate Bob Tuke a step farther:
Today, I announced my endorsement of Bob Tuke to be the next U.S. Senator from my home state of Tennessee. I have known Bob for a long time, and I am glad to call him a close friend. Bob Tuke is hard-working, hard-nosed, and practical, which has served him well as a Marine combat veteran, an accomplished and respected attorney, and as former Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party. Bob faces a challenging general election, but he has the grit and determination to get things done in November and increase the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate. I encourage all of you to contribute to his campaign today and help elect Bob Tuke as the next Senator from the great state of Tennessee.
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Al Gore Endorses Bob Tuke
Posted on at 11:28 amFrom the press release:
“I am pleased to endorse my friend, Bob Tuke, to be the next U.S. Senator from my home state of Tennessee. Bob’s plans to immediately and aggressively produce alternative energy in Tennessee will help solve the climate crisis, clean our air, create new jobs, and relieve the heavy burden of energy prices across America. But Bob is more than a candidate with timely solutions to pressing problems facing our nation and our planet. He is also a man of great honor and integrity. Bob has the life experience that we need to turn our country around. As a Marine combat veteran in Vietnam, Bob led troops in battle. The U.S. Senate would be well served to have his perspective as we finally bring an end to the mismanaged war in Iraq. These are just a few of the reasons that I am proud to give him my full support and endorsement.”
Old Vandy Law chums, Tuke campaigned with the “Gore Corps” in New Hampshire in 1988 as well as the Former Vice President Gore’s 2000 presidential bid .
Opening Up The Veteran Front On Lamar
Posted on August 14, 2008 at 7:54 amFrom Sharon Cobb:
Bob Tuke, candidate for U.S. Senate, will be joined by General Wesley Clark, four-star general and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, for a press conference this Thursday, August 14th at 4:00 p.m. in House Committee Room LP-31 at Legislative Plaza to discuss funding for the war on terror, the growing strength of Al Qaeda in Pakistan, and support for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, including the new 21st Century G.I. Bill.
Toasting Tuke
Posted on August 13, 2008 at 7:42 amDue to the Democrats’ inability to bring primary voters to polls to vote in good numbers for the U.S. Senate primary, Rob Huddleston contends there is simply no beating Lamar Alexander this election cycle:
Maybe Tuke will do something crazy like turn himself blue or ride a donkey around the state to make this race interesting. If not, you can get the butter and jelly out, because Tuke’s toast.
Tuke-ing The Stats
Posted on August 11, 2008 at 8:53 amKen Whitehouse explains why Thursday’s primary results were no boost for a Democratic candidate trying to gain traction against Lamar Alexander:
The real shock of the evening was that political unknown Gary G. Davis came in second.
Davis spent no money on his campaign yet picked up 38,971 votes, roughly 21 percent of all the votes cast. While Tuke beat Davis by about 20,000 votes, and the statewide result was an embarrassment to Padgett, the numbers being put out by the Tennessee Division of Elections show that Tuke’s effort to “take the hill” will need some grappling hooks.
According to the Tennessee Division of Elections data, Alexander received more votes than all Democrat challengers combined. Alexander pulled in 243,056 votes compared to the 182,724 votes cast on the Democratic side. That is a margin of 60,332 for Alexander in a largely uneventful primary season.
What this also means is that Alexander received 57 percent of total partisan ballots cast in the combined Democrat/Republican U.S. Senate Primary. Tuke’s 58,946 represented 13.8 percent.
What is most interesting in reviewing the state’s election data is that Davis, the virtually unknown candidate, won more counties than Tuke — 39 to 34 (Tuke tied with Clayton in one county).
SEE ALSO: The REAL Gary Davis
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It’s All About Memphis
Posted on August 7, 2008 at 7:43 amJackson Baker reports that is where the Democratic U.S. Senate primary is likely to trun:
What is unusual about the Senate primary that ends this week is that Tuke, regarded by most observers (and by his own polls) as the leader in that race, chose to make Shelby County the focus of his primary efforts — to the point of scheduling his election-night celebration for the Cadre Building in downtown Memphis. “We think this is where the decision will lie,” said an aide to the former Democratic Party chairman on an all-day swing through Shelby County on Saturday.
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No Purchase Necessary
Posted on at 7:21 amTom Humphrey reports that a promotional press release from the Bob Tuke campaign seemed to run afoul of state lottery laws:
Tuke came up with a fundraising effort that arguably raised questions about whether his campaign could run afoul of state laws that prohibit most lottery contests.
“Donate $50 … and you may be selected to attend a private political strategy dinner with us as well as have VIP backstage access,” declared the solicitation.
The dinner on election night is to include both Tuke and Joe Trippi, his chief political strategist.
That might sound like offering a chance for a prize in exchange for money, forbidden by state laws except for charitable events explicitly authorized by the Legislature.
But it’s not, says Ben Chao, Tuke’s campaign manager, who pointed out a disclaimer below the main text of the solicitation. It says that no donation, or purchase, is necessary to win - just as with promotional contests.
“We were very careful not to violate any lottery laws,” said Chao.
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